We read with great interest the article ‘The use of tocilizumab and tofacitinib in patients with resolved hepatitis B infection: a case series’ by Serling-Boyd et al.1 In this article, the authors conducted a retrospective study and examined the safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) and tofacitinib (TOF) in patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection defined as HB surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative, HB surface antibody (HBsAb)-positive and/or HB core antibody (HBcAb)-positive status. According to the authors, none of the patients developed HBV reactivation, leading to the conclusion that TCZ and TOF may be safely used in patients with resolved HBV infection.1 HBV reactivation can potentially cause de novo hepatitis B associated with a high mortality rate.2 Thus, this study is clinically relevant and reduces our anxiety regarding the management of HBV. However, we have several concerns about this report.

First, as acknowledged by the authors, …