title: Anti-hepatitis B surface immunoglobulin reduction in early postoperative period after liver transplantation in hepatitis B virus-positive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated a protocol that lowered the necessary dose of anti-hepatitis B surface immunoglobulin (HBIg) with frequent monitoring of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (HBsAb) levels in the early post-transplant period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive patients were studied. We administered a nucleoside analog from the preoperative period, high dose HBIg was used intraoperatively (200 IU/kg in the patients who weighed less than 50 kg, and 10 000 IU in those who weighed more than or equal to 50 kg) and was continued every day (5000-10 000 IU/day). Thereafter, HBIg was administered to keep the target trough titers. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of this protocol for preventing HBV reactivation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average use of HBIg during the first three postoperative months (POM) was 27.9 ± 9.6 Kilo International Units. The average cost was $US11 800 in the first three postoperative months, compared with other previously reported protocols (about $20 000-40 000). HBV reactivation was detected in only one patient (6.7%) during the median follow up of 64 months (range: 12-86 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present protocol for HBIg administration, which used frequent monitoring of HBsAg and HBsAb levels to determine the minimum required dose, was both safe and effective, and contributed to overall cost saving after liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gastroenterology             Transplant Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katano
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto