title: Liver transplantation and hepatitis B virus infection: towards an immunoglobulin-free antiviral treatment after transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article provides an update on the latest development on deploying oral nucleosides in an immunoglobulin-free regime against hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Entecavir and tenofovir are the two newer oral nucleosides that are associated with a low virological rebound rate at less than 2% at 5 years. As a result, they have been applied as standalone treatment against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation without immunoglobulin. Recent evidence has shown that a hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance rate of 86% and 91% after 1 and 2 years was achievable with entecavir monotherapy. Moreover, none of the patients had histological graft damage because of HBV recurrence and an overall survival over 80% at 7 years has been reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With newer and more potent oral nucleos(t)ide (NA) available, a hepatitis B immune globulin-free regimen after liver transplantation has become safe and feasible for suppression of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation, and for avoidance of HBV-related graft complications.
authors: aDivision of Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong bDepartment of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Albert C Y
authors: AC
authors: Chan
authors: James Y Y
authors: JY
authors: Fung
authors: Chung Mau
authors: CM
authors: Lo
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins