title: Prevention of de novo hepatitis B infection in recipients of hepatic allografts from anti-HBc positive donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The shortage of donor organs occasionally mandates the use of hepatic allografts from anti-HBc+ donors in recipients who are susceptible to de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin and lamivudine to prevent de novo HBV infection in anti-HBs negative recipients of allografts from anti-HBc+ donors has not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  After liver transplantation with an allograft from a donor positive for anti-HBc, recipients who were anti-HBs-, HbsAg- received hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) 10,000 IU i.v. daily for 7 days and monthly for 6 months. After 6 months, 1000 IU of HBIG was given IM. every 2 weeks for 18 months. Patients transplanted after 4/1/97 were given lamivudine 150 mg daily starting postoperative day 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 8/14/96 and 6/10/98, 264 orthotopic liver transplants were performed and 16 anti-HBs-, HbsAg- patients received an hepatic allograft from a donor positive for anti-HBc. HBIG mono-therapy was administered to one patient. HBIG and lamivudine combination therapy was administered to 15 patients. Of the 16 patients, 8 were positive only for anti-HBc before transplant, and 8 were naive (anti-HBs-, anti-HBc-). The single patient who received HBIG monotherapy became HbsAg+ at 6 months. All patients receiving combination therapy with HBIG and lamivudine have remained HbsAg-. The average follow-up is 459 days (range 170-754). Two patients died from unrelated causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy with HBIG and lamivudine may prevent de novo HBV infection in anti-HBs-, HbsAg- recipients of hepatic allografts from anti-HBc+ donors.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Cacciarelli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakela
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin