title: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from non-replicative hepatitis B virus carriers is safe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus can cause serious problems in individuals undergoing organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic events among HBs-Ag positive recipients and HBs-Ag negative recipients who received products from hepatitis B virus carriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 151 patients received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of Ankara, between June 1989 and June 1998. Among these, eight HBs-Ag positive and four HBs-Ag negative recipients received a product from a hepatitis B virus positive donor. The median follow-up period for these 12 patients was 13.2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of the eight HBs-Ag positive recipients died (one from hepatic failure); of the remainder, two are HBs-Ag negative, two HBs-Ag positive with normal liver injury tests and one HBs-Ag positive with elevated ALT levels. Of the four HBs-Ag negative recipients who received stem cells from a hepatitis B positive donor, two died; none of the patients in this group became HBs-Ag positive after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis B virus infection is a common problem in patients being considered for allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation, especially in areas where hepatitis B virus infection is endemic. We believe that the presence of HBs-Ag positivity is not an absolute contraindication for allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation unless the hepatitis B virus is in a replication phase.
authors.affiliation: University of Ankara, Medical School, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ustün
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Idilman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gürman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beksaç
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konuk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karayalçin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poyraz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Thiel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koç
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D000075202:Contraindications; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens