Risk of HBV Reactivation Among IBD patients With Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection

We read with great interest the recently published review by Beaugerie et  al1 that looked at treatment-related complications in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and how to predict, prevent, and manage such complications. The authors stated that in patients who are hepatitis B virus (HBV) (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] positive) carriers, prophylacti c antiviral treatment with nucleotide or nucleoside analogues is recommended and is best started 2 weeks before the introduction of steroids, azathioprine, or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α therapy and continued for 12 months after their withdrawal.
Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research