title: Development of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen after liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have a defective HBV-specific immune response, and the spontaneous development of antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after liver transplantation has not been observed. We report the spontaneous production of anti-HBs in 21 of 50 (42%) patients receiving lamivudine monoprophylaxis after liver transplantation. Seroconversion to anti-HBs status (>10 mIU/mL) was found at a median of 8 days (range, 1 to 43 days) after transplantation. In each case, serial serum samples showed a >100% increase in antibody titer as compared with that of day 7 after transplantation in the absence of any blood product transfusion. The anti-HBs titer increased to a maximum within 3 months, and the peak titer was <100 mIU/mL in 10 patients, 100 to 1000 mIU/mL in 5 patients, and >1,000 mIU/mL in 6 patients. In 12 patients, anti-HBs disappeared from serum at a median of 201 days (range, 24 to 414 days), whereas the other 9 patients remained positive for anti-HBs at a median of 221 days (range, 94 to 1,025 days) after transplantation. Patients in whom anti-HBs in serum developed had a more rapid clearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (log rank test, P =.011). Using logistic regression analysis, the only predictor of anti-HBs production was an HBV-immune donor (odds ratio, 18.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.2 to 112.4; P =.001). In conclusion, patients who undergo liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B using lamivudine prophylaxis may develop anti-HBs spontaneously. The antibody is likely to be of donor origin, suggesting the possibility of adoptive immunity transfer through a liver graft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Center for the Study of Liver Disease, University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Queen Mary Hospital, China. chungmlo@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Chung-Mau
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: James Tak-Kwan
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: George Ka-Kit
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Chi-Leung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Siu-Tim
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Sheung-Tat
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens