title: Intramuscular hepatitis B immune globulin combined with lamivudine in prevention of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combined hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) and lamivudine in prophylaxis of the recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation has significantly improved the survival of HBsAg positive patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the outcomes of liver transplantation for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart analysis and a review of the organ transplant database identified 51 patients (43 men and 8 women) transplanted for benign HBV-related cirrhotic diseases between June 2002 and December 2004 who had survived more than 3 months. HBIg was administered intravenously during the first week and intramuscularly thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a median follow-up of 14.1 months, the overall recurrence rate in the 51 patients was 3.9% (2/51). The overall patient survival was 88.3%, and 82.4% after 1 and 2 years, respectively. A daily oral dose of 100 mg lamivudine for 2 weeks before transplantation for 10 patients enabled 57.1% (4/7) and 62.5% (5/8) of HBV-DNA and HBeAg positive patients respectively to convert to be negative. Intramuscular HBIg was well tolerated in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lamivudine combined with intramuscular HBIg can effectively prevent allograft from the recurrence of HBV after liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation Group of Transplantation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Mao-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Lu-Nan
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Tian-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-Yin
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ming-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019259:Lamivudine; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin