Screening and monitoring patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with immunosuppressive agents for hepatitis B reactivation

Abstract

Immunosuppressive drugs are used for treating coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pneumonia. This study examined the current status of screening and monitoring patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with immunosuppressive agents for hepatitis B virus(HBV)reactivation. Of 123 patients whose hepatitis B surface antigen level was measured, 2 were HBsAg-positive. Antihepatitis B core/surface antibodies were measured in all 121 HBsAg-negative patients. HBV DNA was measured in 31 of 32 patients who were positive for either or both antihepatitis B core/surface antibodies. Of 34 patients requiring regular monitoring, only 4 were monitored. The HBV monitoring rate at the initiation of COVID-19 treatment was high. How-ever, HBV monitoring after COVID-19 treatment was difficult because most patients were transferred to other hospitals or had their treatment terminated. Copyright © 2022 Takeshi Matsui et al.