Lamivudine therapy for a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive leukemia patient receiving myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be a cause of fatal liver failure after chemoth erapy for viral carrier patients and limits the indication of myeloablative therapy for them. We describe an HBsAg-positive leukemia patient who succe ssfully underwent autologous PBSC transplant. After chemotherapeutic treatm ent his serum HBV DNA level rose in association with hepatitis. To prevent progression to fulminant hepatitis, we administered lamivudine, a viral rev erse transcriptase inhibitor, during the transplantation procedure. The pat ient did not show any increase of HBV DNA or a worsening of his hepatitis. Thus, lamivudine may be a promising treatment for HBsAg-positive patients r eceiving myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantatio n.