Favorable outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation in a patient with subacute liver failure due to the emergence of a hepatitis B YMDD escape mutant virus.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with end-stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis B infection in whom a YMDD escape hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutant has emerged under lamivudine treatment are generally denied liver transplantation (OLT).


METHODS
We report the case of a male patient who was started on prophylactic treatment with lamivudine in the context of recurrent episodes of HBV reactivation during high dose immunosuppressive therapy for relapsing severe pulmonary sarcoidosis.


RESULTS
Following the emergence of a YMDD escape mutant virus under lamivudine treatment, he developed subacute liver failure requiring liver transplantation. The patient was treated with a combination of intravenous hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) which was started perioperatively and also continued lamivudine after OLT. Twelve months after OLT, there was no evidence of HBV reinfection of the liver graft with the use of HBIG and lamivudine.


CONCLUSIONS
This observation suggests that emergence of the YMDD mutation is not a contra-indication to OLT, providing adequate immunoprophylaxis using HBIG and lamivudine combination therapy.
Stärkel
P
P
Department of Gastroenterology, Liver transplant program, St. Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Horsmans
Y
Y
Geubel
A
A
Ciccarelli
O
O
Goubau
P
P
Rahier
J
J
Lerut
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000601:surgery*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome