Erdoğan, EsraErdoğan, Mehmet AliYolbaş, ServetKeser, Muhammed FurkanAydin, Saliha2026-04-042026-04-0420242147-7892https://doi.org/10.33715/inonusaglik.1467613https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/tr/yayin/detay/1278973https://hdl.handle.net/11616/108159Hepatitis B infection is a global disease with significant morbidity and mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of HBV reactivation in patients with resolved HBV infection using rituximab for the treatment of various rheumatological diseases. Patients receiving rituximab therapy for the treatment of rheumatic diseases were retrospectively screened for serological HBV infection markers (HBV DNA, HBsAg, anti-HBc IgG and anti-HBs). Twenty-five patients with resolved HBV infection who were HBV DNA-negative, HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc IgG-positive were included in the study. Twenty-two patients were female (88%) and three were male (12%). The average age of the patients was 62.56±9.786 years. Out of 25 patients, 22 had rheumatoid disease, two had Sjögren's syndrome, and one patient had systemic lupus erythematosus. While anti-HBs was positive in 15 patients, anti-HBs was negative in 10 patients. The mean HBsAg titer of the patients before treatment was 0.27±0.102, while the anti-HBs titer was 211.00±317.380 IU/L. Hepatitis B reactivation was not observed in any of the patients included in the study. Hence, the data suggest that patients with rheumatological diseases have a low risk of reactivation of HBV infection under rituximab treatment. However, prospective, multicenter studies involving more patients are needed to reach definitive conclusions. © 2024, Inonu University. All rights reserved.trinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessHBV reactivationHepatitis B virusRheumatological diseasesRituximabArticle12269270110.33715/inonusaglik.14676132-s2.0-105001437831Q41278973