Liver transplantation for patients with viral hepatitis.
As a benign liver disease, end-stage viral hepatitis has been acknowledged as a main indication for liver transplantation. However, the recurrence of viral hepatitis is the major factor affecting the survival of transplant recipients. The recurrence of hepatitis B is defined as a return of positive HBsAg, while in case of hepatitis C, it is the return of positive HCV-RNA in serum. Several factors are believed as the hazardous factors of hepatitis recurrence, including the types and course of hepatitis, ethnical background, usage of antiviral drugs and immunosuppressive protocol. High dose, long term and combinative therapy of HBIg and novel drugs such as lamivudine and ribavirin offers the promising result of preventing hepatitis recurrence.
Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. liuhaodoctor@ hotmail.com
Hao
H
Liu
Yong-Feng
YF
Liu
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents