title: Disappearance of hepatitis B virus core deletion mutants and successful combined kidney/liver transplantation in a patient treated with lamivudine.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core deletion variants with enhanced viral replication are associated with rapid deterioration of liver function in renal allograft recipients. Antiviral agents such as famciclovir and lamivudine offer new treatment strategies for these patients. Appearance, accumulation and persistence of HBV core deletion mutants were closely monitored in a kidney transplant recipient with liver cirrhosis before and after initiation of antiviral treatment. Under treatment with famciclovir HBV DNA concentration decreased by 50 %, HBV mutants persisted. After replacement of famciclovir by lamivudine HBV replication was reduced below the detection limit. Lamivudine was well tolerated and liver function improved. After successful combined kidney/liver transplantation the patient became HBsAg and HBV DNA (detected by PCR) negative under continuous hyperimmune globulin and lamivudine treatment. Antiviral therapy with lamivudine may be useful in treatment of progressive liver disease associated with HBV core deletion mutants in renal allograft recipients and may enable successful liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Virology, Charité, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13 353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preikschat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hocher
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Budde
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Bechstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Neumayer
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D000077595:Famciclovir