The Impact of Chemotherapy on Hepatitis B Antibody Titer in Patients with Hematological Malignancies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of chemotherapy (CT) on HBsAb titer in patients receiving CT due to hematological malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 75 patients who received CT with the diagnosis of various hematological malignancies and who had serum HBsAb levels measured prior to and after the cessation of CT were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 52 years (range: 16-78) with 49 (65%) males and 26 (35%) females. Median HBsAb titer decreased significantly after CT compared to the pre-CT median HBsAb titer [68 (range: 0-1000) vs. 100 (range: 6.2-1000)] (p=0.001). In subgroup analysis, median HBsAb titer decreased significantly after CT in acute leukemia patients [110 (range: 6.2-1000) vs. 67.8 (range: 0-1000)] (p=0.003) and in patients receiving intensive CT [97.2 (range: 6.2-1000) vs. 71 (range: 0-1000)] (p=0.036). The decrease in median HBsAb titer was significant in male patients (p<0.001). HBsAb became negative after CT in 9 patients who were HBcAb-negative and had lower pre-CT HBsAb levels. CONCLUSION: HBsAb decreased after CT, especially in acute leukemia and male patients, and in patients receiving intensive CT.