Safety of complete and sustained prophylaxis withdrawal in patients liver-transplanted for HBV-related cirrhosis at low risk of HBV recurrence.
OBJECTIVE
HBV reactivation after liver transplantation may be related to persistence of covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA. We investigated the safety of HBV prophylaxis withdrawal in selected HBV transplanted patients.


METHODS
Thirty patients transplanted 64-195months earlier (23 males, median age 56yrs), HBsAg-positive, HBeAg, and HBV-DNA negative at transplant (43% HCV/HDV co-infected), with undetectable intrahepatic total and ccc-DNA were enrolled. All patients underwent HBIg withdrawal and continued lamivudine with monthly HBsAg and HBV-DNA monitoring and sequential liver biopsies. Those with confirmed intrahepatic total and ccc-DNA undetectability 24weeks after stopping HBIg, also underwent lamivudine withdrawal and were followed-up without prophylaxis.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients did not exhibit signs of HBV recurrence after prophylaxis withdrawal (median follow-up 28.7months, range 22-42). Five patients became HBsAg-positive: one early after HBIg withdrawal, the other four after HBIG and lamivudine withdrawal. None of these patients experienced clinically relevant events. In the first patient, HBIg were reinstituted with prompt HBsAg negativization. Of the other four, one remained HBsAg-positive with detectable HBV-DNA and mild ALT elevation and was successfully treated with tenofovir. In the remaining three, HBsAg positivity was transient and followed by anti-HBs seroconversion, thus no antiviral treatment was needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with undetectable HBV viremia at transplant and no evidence of intrahepatic total and cccDNA may safely undergo cautious weaning of prophylaxis, showing low rate of HBV recurrence after a 2 year follow-up. Undetectability of intrahepatic ccc-DNA may help to identify patients at low-risk of recurrence, yet studies with longer follow-up are needed.
Hepatology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ilaria.lenci@uniroma2.it.
Ilaria
I
Lenci
Liver Transplant Unit, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Tisone
Hepatology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Daniele
D
Di Paolo
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Fabio
F
Marcuccilli
Liver Transplant Unit, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Laura
L
Tariciotti
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Ciotti
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Valentina
V
Svicher
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Carlo Federico
CF
Perno
Hepatology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Mario
M
Angelico
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D019259:Lamivudine