Transient reactivation of occult hepatitis B virus infection despite lamivudine prophylaxis in a patient treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

A female patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who tested positive for surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus and negative for hepatitis B core antibody experienced a reactivation of occult HBV infection 20 months after rituximab discontinuation despite lamivudine prophylaxis covering the 4 months of rituximab administration and the subsequent 12 months. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.