Hepatitis B reactivation following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: case report and review of the literature.

A case of hepatitis B reactivation following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia is reported. The presence of hepatitis B surface antibody prior to transplantation indicated previous infection with hepatitis B. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen was first detected 21 months after transplantation. Testing for hepatitis B reactivation was prompted by the development of acute hepatitis B in the patient's spouse. Screening for hepatitis B infection may be helpful when abnormal liver function tests develop after bone marrow transplantation