HBV reactivation after fludarabine chemotherapy identified on investigation of suspected transfusion-transmitted Hepatitis B virus

Background & AimsMulti-transfused patients often receive treatments inducing various levels of immunodeficiency. Acute viral infections may then be attributed either to transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) or reactivation of a past infection.MethodsA patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who had >250 blood donor exposures developed acute Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Routine donor testing for HB core antibodies (anti-HBc) was in place in the relevant period and investigations undertaken on the blood donors were negative.ResultsReview of historical, molecular, and antigenic evidence demonstrated reactivation of a recovered HBV infection dating >30years and the selection of a rare escape mutant that briefly replicated and caused acute liver disease. This mutant was unreactive with several HBsAg assays and poorly reactive with an HBV vaccine plasma. Correcting the C139Y substitution by site directed mutagenesis of recombinant surface proteins re-established assay reactivity.ConclusionsFludarabine, but not Chlorambucil, appeared sufficiently immunosuppressive to trigger reactivation despite low levels of neutralizing antibodies. Differentiating between TTI and reactivation of HBV becomes more challenging with the increasing frequency of immunocompromised blood recipients. Chemotherapy with Fludarabine alone should be considered as carrying high risk of viral reactivation. Pre-treatment testing and peripheral blood sample archiving may be indicated in HBsAg negative patients