title: Current therapeutic strategies for recurrent hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease is the leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) in Asia, especially in China. With the introduction of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and oral antiviral drugs, the recurrent HBV infection rate after LT has been evidently reduced. However, complete eradication of recurrent HBV infection after LT is almost impossible. Recurrent graft infection may lead to rapid disease progression and is a frequent cause of death within the first year after LT. At present, the availability of new oral medications, especially nucleoside or nucleotide analogues such as adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, further strengthens our ability to treat recurrent HBV infection after LT. Moreover, since combined treatment with HBIG and antiviral agents after liver re-transplantation may play an important role in improving the prognosis of recurrent HBV infection, irreversible graft dysfunction secondary to recurrent HBV infection in spite of oral medications should no longer be considered an absolute contraindication for liver re-transplantation. Published reviews focusing on the therapeutic strategies for recurrent HBV infection after LT are very limited. In this article, the current therapeutic strategies for recurrent HBV infection after LT and evolving new trends are reviewed to guide clinical doctors to choose an optimal treatment plan in different clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Vascular Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lu-Nan
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068698:Tenofovir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D007372:Interferons; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000225:Adenine; C106812:adefovir dipivoxil