Persistent hepatitis B virus infection of mononuclear blood cells without concomitant liver infection. The liver transplantation model.
We have investigated the recurrence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 30 patients treated by orthotopic liver transplantation and given high doses of anti-HBs immunoglobulin. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay showed no evidence of HBV DNA sequences in the liver of 23/24 patients who remained serum HBsAg-negative during a mean follow-up of 13 months (2-24 months) after OLT. However, the liver scored positive in all the 6 individuals in whom HBsAG reappeared. The PCR assay identified HBV DNA sequences in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 7 of 11 subjects who were serum HBsAG-negative and liver HBV DNA-negative by PCR. Therefore, this application of the sensitive PCR assay demonstrates persistent infection of PBMC in the absence of liver HBV--thus OLT provides a model for studying the interaction between HBV, PBMC, and the liver.
Féray
C
C
U 163-Hybridotest, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Zignego
A L
AL
Samuel
D
D
Bismuth
A
A
Reynes
M
M
Tiollais
P
P
Bismuth
H
H
Brechot
C
C
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012008:Recurrence
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens