Prevention of hepatitis B virus reinfection after orthotopic liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
We discuss the prevention of hepatitis B virus reinfection following orthotopic liver transplantation.


METHODS
Sixty-eight cases of chronic fulminant hepatitis B, the end stage of liver cirrhosis and liver carcinoma complicated with HBV cirrhosis, were given antiviral drugs pre- and posttransplantation to prevent hepatitis B virus reinfection. Lamivudine was administered to two cases and lamivudine + HBIG to 63 cases. Adefovir + HBIG was administered to three cases. The serum HBV, HBV DNA, liver biopsy immunohistochemistry and clinical examinations were performed.


RESULTS
One of two cases given lamivudine developed reinfection with serum HBSAg, HbeAb, HBcAb, HBV DNA, and positive and liver biopsy immunohistochemistry showing HBSAg phenotype. Two of the 63 cases given lamivudine + HBIG developed reinfection with serum HBSAg, HBeAb, HBcAb positive and liver biopsy immunohistochemistry showing HBSAg phenotype. The serum HBV DNA was positive in one of the two cases. Three cases given adefovir developed no reinfection with HBV.


CONCLUSIONS
Orthotopic liver transplantation is an effective treatment for HBV infection; lamivudine + HBIG or adefovir + HBIG prevent hepatitis B virus reinfection.
Wang
Z-X
ZX
Liver Transplantation Group of Transplantation Center, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Fu
Z-R
ZR
Ding
G-S
GS
Zhang
J-J
JJ
Fu
H
H
Zhang
M
M
Zhang
C-Y
CY
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin