title: Liver transplantation in HBsAg-positive HBV-DNA--negative cirrhotics: immunoprophylaxis and long-term outcome.
abstract: The presence of a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been considered a highly questionable indication for orthotopic liver transplantation. We report our experience in the treatment of HBsAg-positive HBV-DNA-negative cirrhotics with liver transplantation, whether or not followed by passive prophylaxis with specific immunoglobulins. Of the 123 cirrhotics who received transplants at our institution since May 1986, 39 (31.7%) were HBsAg positive; of these, 1 was HBV-DNA positive, and 4 were hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) positive. Since April 1991, 25 HBsAg-positive HBV-DNA-negative cirrhotics have undergone an original protocol with the periodical intramuscular administration of 5,000 IU of specific immunoglobulins starting in the anhepatic phase and lasting for at least 1 year. There were no differences among cirrhotics in terms of operative mortality and long-term survival with respect to the presence of the HBsAg. Of the 35 HBsAg-positive HBV-DNA-negative patients having a follow-up of 1 month or longer, 12 (34.3%) developed HBsAg recurrence; of them, 4 (33.3%) had received a complete prophylaxis, whereas 8 (66.7%) had not. The recurrence rate was 80% (8 out of 10) in the group of patients who had not received the prophylaxis and 16% (4 out of 25) in the group who had received the prophylaxis (P = .0003). The actuarial recurrence rate in the treated patients was 20.2% and 20.2% after 1 and 3 years, respectively, whereas in the untreated group it was 60.0% and 70.0% (P < .01). The hazard of recurrence of treated patients was reduced to 24.9% compared with untreated patients. Liver transplantation can be performed in HBsAg-positive HBV DNA negative patients without an increase in the operative risk or a worsening of long-term results. Immunoglobulin prophylaxis seems to be effective in preventing hepatitis recurrence after transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, University of Bologna, S. Orsola Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Grazi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazziotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jovine
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paladini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins