Lamivudine monoprophylaxis for liver transplant recipients with non-replicating hepatitis B virus infection.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine (LAM) monoprophylaxis for patients with non-replicating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).


METHODS
Among 128 liver recipients with HBV infection between 1994 and 2004 transplanted at our institution, 60 had non-replicating HBV infection at the time of OLT. Of those, 26 patients received LAM prophylaxis (monoprophylaxis group) and 34 patients received LAM and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) prophylaxis (combination group) after OLT.


RESULTS
Median follow-up after OLT was 67 and 54 months, for monoprophylaxis and combination groups respectively. One and five yr patient/graft survival were 96/85% and 96/80% in monoprophylaxis group, and 85/79% and 67/55% in combination group. HBV DNA was re-detected or increased >10(5) IU/mL in four patients (15%) at 20-29 month in monoprophylaxis group and six (18%) at 4-35 months in combination group. Recurrent hepatitis was seen in two patients (8%) at 27 and 45 months and monoprophylaxis group and three (9%) at 21-35 months in combination group. The rate of recurrence was not statistically different between two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
LAM monoprophylaxis seemed to be effective for OLT recipients with HBV infection who had non-replicating HBV at transplantation. HBIG administration may play a less valuable role in preventing HBV recurrence in this group of patients.
Yoshida
Hideo
H
Division of Liver/GI Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Kato
Tomoaki
T
Levi
David M
DM
Regev
Arie
A
Madariaga
Juan R
JR
Nishida
Seigo
S
Martinez
Enrique J
EJ
Schiff
Eugene R
ER
Omata
Masao
M
Tzakis
Andreas G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019259:Lamivudine