Durable clearance of hepatitis B virus after allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation by adoptive immunity transfer and antiviral chemotherapy

Carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) who require allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are at increased risk of hepatic morbidity and mortality. We report the course of a 12-year-old female hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)- and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive HBV carrier with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who cleared HBV after successful allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation from an anti-hepatitis B surface antibody- and anti-hepatitis B core antibody-positive, HLA-identical sibling and preemptive antiviral therapy with lamivudine. This case demonstrates that durable clearance of longstanding HBV infection can be safely achieved by antiviral chemotherapy and adoptive immunity transfer from a naturally immune matched related donor.