Serological Profiles of Hepatitis B Virus in Patients With Crohn's Disease Undergoing Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα) Therapy at Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat.

Introduction Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) therapies have revolutionized the management of Crohn's disease (CD). However, they increase the risk of viral reactivation, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study aims to define the HBV serological profiles of patients with CD who are candidates for biological therapy, identifying profiles at potential risk for reactivation or exacerbation following immunosuppressive treatment. Materials and methods This descriptive retrospective study included patients with CD, aged over 16 years, who were candidates for anti-TNFα treatment at Ibn Sina University Hospital Center (UHC) in Rabat, Morocco, from January 2015 to March 2023. The serological profiles of patients, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibodies, and total hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb), were determined using microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay with the ARCHITECT i2000sr or Alinity (Abbott Diagnostics, Chicago, Illinois, United States) automated systems at the Central Virology Laboratory (CVL) of Ibn Sina UHC Rabat. HBV DNA quantification was performed using the m2000 Abbott Diagnostic or GeneXpert system. Results Out of 249 patients with CD who were candidates for biological therapy, 131 (52.6%) received anti-TNFα treatment, including 39 (29.8%) with adalimumab and 92 (70.2%) with infliximab. The median age was 41 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 0.52. The overall HBV screening rate before starting biological therapy was 68.7%. HBV screening was conducted for 90 patients at the CVL, where serological marker analysis categorized five distinct profiles. A majority of patients (65, 72.2%) had negative serological profiles for HBV, while 10 (11.1%) were immunized via vaccination. Profiles at risk of viral reactivation or worsening following immunosuppressive therapy included 12 (13.3%) patients immunized by contact, two (2.3%) with isolated HBcAb, and one (1.1%) with active viral hepatitis (positive HBsAg and HBcAb), who was initiated on tenofovir 300 mg before starting combination therapy. No cases of primary infection or viral B reactivation were observed during the study. Conclusions In our study, 15 patients (16.7%) exhibited a potential risk of viral reactivation or worsening of HBV following the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. The authors recommend precise patient selection, thorough pretreatment evaluation, and regular follow-up during therapy to minimize adverse events associated with anti-TNFα treatment. Additionally, a prophylactic or preemptive strategy should be considered. The risk of late reactivation after discontinuation of biological therapy should also be carefully monitored.