A successful regimen for the prevention of seroconversion after transplantation of a heart positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.
We report a case involving orthotopic heart transplantation in which a recipient, known to be serologically negative for hepatitis B virus infection, received a heart from a donor known before transplantation to be hepatitis B surface antigen positive. The recipient was treated prospectively with a combination of hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine. After 10 months of follow-up, the recipient has not experienced seroconversion or viremia from hepatitis B virus and has remained without symptoms by both clinical and laboratory measurements.
Turik
M A
MA
Division of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0049.
Markowitz
S M
SM
D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin