Mortality secondary to fulminant hepatic failure in patients with prior resolution of hepatitis B virus infection in Japan

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with resolved HBV infection was found in 23 (4%) of 552 newly hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients in Japan. Because one-fourth of cases develop into fulminant hepatic failure and mortality is 100%, management of HBV reactivation in patients with resolved HBV infection should be discussed.