title: Combination therapy in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus without hepatitis B immune globulin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional therapy to prevent HBV recurrence in liver transplant (LTx) recipients consists of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIg). The aim of this review is to investigate the safety and efficacy of converting HBIg and LAM therapy to ADV and LAM therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review involving all liver transplant patients with HBV maintained on HBIg and LAM therapy. Results collected included: gender, age, HBV serological and DNA status (COBAS AmpliScreen PCR-based testing). Serologic testing was done every three months. Patients were followed for drug reactions, therapy compliance, and immune suppression compliance. A cost benefit analysis was done for drug comparisons using United States currency values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient demographics included: Male (n=6), Female (n=4), mean age 44 years (range 33 to 65). The mean length of follow up since therapy conversion (from HBIg and LMV to ADV and LMV) was 21 months (range 16 to 25 months). Serological status at time of conversion revealed that DNA status remained negative in all patients, HBsAg negative in 10/10, HB eAg (+) (5/10) and HBeAb (+)(5/10). None of the patients experienced an increase in transaminases while on dual ADV and LAM therapy. All patients were maintained on immune suppression monotherapy (tacrolimus) at 7-9 ng/mL. All patients reported compliance with the dual therapy and that they experienced no drug related side effects. Mean yearly costs for ADV and LAM was 7,235.00 United States dollars (range 6,550.00 to 8,225.00); while mean monthly costs for HBIg and LAM; 9225.00 (range 7205.00 to 12005.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above results demonstrate beneficial effects of ADV and LAM in place of the current standard of HBIg and LAM therapy. Safety and short term results show nucleoside therapy is adequate at preventing HBV viral recurrence. Lastly, the economic benefit for ADV and LAM vastly outweighed the HBIg and LAM group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA. guy.neff@uc.edu
authors.forename: Guy W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.forename: Nyingi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kemmer
authors.forename: Tiffany E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Victoria C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Zacharias
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonzo
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buell
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin