Determining whether prophylactic antiviral treatment is necessary in HBsAg-negative/HBcAb-positive patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

•Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) play protective roles in patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).•The risk of HBV reactivation was significantly higher in HBcAb(+)HBsAb(-) patients compared with HBcAb(+)HBsAb(+) patients.•HBV reactivation in HBcAb(+)/HBsAb(+) patients following HSCT was a rare and late complication.•Prophylactic anti-HBV treatment might not be mandatory for hepatitis B surface antigen-negative [HBsAg(-)], HBcAb(+)HBsAb(+) patients following HSCT.