Prognostic significance of the hepatitis B virus-DNA concentration in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Hepatitis B virus-DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in 9 out of 10 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation. Three of these patients were at the same time positive for hepatitis B virus-DNA by dot-blot hybridization (hepatitis B virus-DNA > 1.5 pg/ml). In these three patients HBs-antigen (HBsAg) reappeared within a mean time of 12 weeks after orthotopic liver transplantation (range 7-18 weeks). Only two of the six polymerase chain reaction-positive and dot-blot-negative patients (hepatitis B virus-DNA between 0.4 fg/ml and 1.5 pg/ml) had recurrence of HBsAg within a mean time of 54 weeks (range 52-56 weeks). Passive immunoprophylaxis with anti-HBs antibodies (serum titers > 100 IU/l) did not prevent infection of the graft in the five reinfected patients. We conclude that a low concentration of serum hepatitis B virus-DNA after orthotopic liver transplantation, which is detectable only by polymerase chain reaction, indicates a delayed infection of the graft.
Zöllner
B
B
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Hamburg, Germany.
Polywka
S
S
Feucht
H H
HH
Martens
H
H
Iske
L
L
Oehler
G
G
Laufs
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens