Prevention of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation

Abstract:  Liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease has changed from a contraindication to outcomes comparable with non-HBV-related liver transplantations during the last two decades. Mainly the implementation of immunoprophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the use of nucleoside analogs such as lamivudine and adefovir account for this dramatic change. The standard of care in most centers today consists of lamivudine treatment in replicating hepatitis B pre-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and a combination regimen of lamivudine and HBIG post-OLT. With adefovir, a potent antiviral drug became available in recent years that allows for the treatment of patients with lamivudine-resistant tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD)-mutant HBV. In the transplantation setting, first studies indicate that a triple prophylactic therapy consisting of lamivudine, adefovir, and HBIG will become the standard of care for YMDD-mutant-related hepatitis B. With new drugs emerging for the treatment of chronic HBV, there is optimism for new options also in the transplant setting.     

Prophylaxis against de novo hepatitis B for liver transplantation utilizing hep B core (+) donors: does hepatitis B immunoglobulin provide a survival advantage?

Donor liver allografts with positive serology for hepatitis B core antibody [HBc (+)] have been increasingly used for liver transplantation. However, the optimal prophylactic regimen to prevent development of de novo hepatitis B has not been determined. To evaluate this, we screened United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Standard Transplant Analysis and Research (STAR) registry data for adult recipients of HBc (+) organs who were HBsAg (?), and evaluated the effects of using prophylactic anti‐viral therapies (HBIG and lamivudine) on patient and graft survival. Out of a total cohort of 958 patients transplanted since 2004, 61 received HBIG alone, 116 received lamivudine alone, 66 both, 509 neither and 206 were missing this information. Based on several multivariable Cox regression models, patients receiving HBIG therapy‐only were observed to have a statistically significant (approximately 70%) reduction in risk of mortality compared with patients receiving lamivudine‐only therapy [HR = 0.29, 95% CI (0.10, 0.86), P = 0.026], and a nonstatistically significant reduction in risk of graft failure. However, no graft failures were attributed to de novo hepatitis B, suggesting that any improved graft/patient survival possibly associated with HBIG therapy occurs independently of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) reduction. While this study cannot prove that HBIG therapy is protective for graft and patient survival after liver transplantation, these findings do highlight the need to further examine and study prophylactic use in recipients of HBc (+) donors.     

Network meta-analysis on prophylactic regimens against recurrent hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation

Background

Previous meta-analyses of non-randomized studies suggested that the hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and lamivudine (LAM) combination therapy was significantly better than HBIG or LAM alone in preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after transplantation. However, substantial evidences supporting the superiority of combination therapy are still insufficient. Therefore, we sought to conduct a multiple-treatment comparison to integrate current data which was based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

We searched electronic databases of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for eligible literatures. Pair-wise meta-analyses were to synthesize studies comparing the same pair of treatments. Appropriate networks for overall and 1-year recurrence rates were established. Bayesian algorithm was used in multiple-treatment comparisons to compare relative effects of all included regimens.

Results

Four RCTs on prophylaxis against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation, involving 162 participants, were included. HBIG mono-therapy, LAM mono-therapy and HBIG plus LAM showed no statistically difference in risk ratios (RRs) in terms of overall HBV recurrence rate in network meta-analysis. Nevertheless, HBIG mono-therapy had potential advantage compared with combination of HBIG and LAM in 1-year HBV recurrence rate [RR 0.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00 to 0.91] while the rest comparisons revealed no significance. The cumulative probabilities of treatments associated with the highest recurrence were (overall HBV recurrence rate, 1-year HBV recurrence rate): HBIG (18%, 1%), LAM (32%, 42%) and HBIG plus LAM (50%, 57%).

Conclusions

This network meta-analysis based on data from RCTs showed no significant differences among HBIG mono-therapy, LAM mono-therapy, combination of HBIG and LAM in overall HBV recurrence rate after liver transplantation. Further well designed and large-scale RCTs are warranted to clarify these issues.     

Long‐term outcome of patients with lamivudine after early cessation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin for prevention of recurrent hepatitis B following liver transplantation

Yuefeng M, Weili F, Wengxiang T, Ligang X, Guiling L, Hongwei G, Wencai L, Xiaoguang W, Wei M, Zhongyi F. Long‐term outcome of patients with lamivudine after early cessation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin for prevention of recurrent hepatitis B following liver transplantation.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 517–522. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of long‐term prophylaxis with lamivudine (LAM) after a course of post‐operative hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related disease. Result: The medical records of HBV‐infected patients who underwent a LT in our institution between July 2001 and May 2005 were reviewed. There were 15 liver transplant recipients who were administered HBIG for <18 months and used LAM as a maintenance prophylaxis regime enrolled in this study. At enrollment, all patients were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and three patients were HBeAg positive. There were 13 patients who were HBV DNA positive with a mean viral load of 5.4 log copies/mL, and among them, 12 recipients were on antiviral therapy with LAM (100 mg/d orally) for 12–168 d, resulting in HBV DNA negative levels in nine patients prior to their transplant. HBV recurrence post‐LT was noted in two patients who had very high‐HBV DNA levels pre‐LT. Both of these patients showed LAM‐resistant mutation at the time of recurrence. The 11 patients who were HBV DNA negative before LT (low‐risk patients) had no HBV recurrence during a follow‐up at a median of 58 months post‐LT. This included five patients who had intermittent low‐level HBV DNA post‐LT (HBsAg negative), of whom two had YMDD mutation and these two were given adefovir in addition to LAM. Conclusion: Our retrospective study demonstrated excellent long‐term outcomes in the low‐risk patients treated with LAM after a short course of HBIG.     

Antiviral treatment for hepatitis B virus recurrence following liver transplantation

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) following liver transplantation (LT) for HBV‐related disease and to recognize the outcome of treatment for HBV recurrence with oral nucleos(t)ide analogues. Six hundred and sixty‐seven LTs were performed for HBsAg‐positive adult patients in our institute from 1996 to 2010. HBV prophylaxis was performed by hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) monotherapy or HBIG and entecavir combination therapy. There were 63 cases (11.4%) of HBV recurrences during a median follow‐up of 51 months. The median time to HBV recurrence was 22 months. A preoperative HBV DNA load of more than 10⁵ IU/mL, HBIG monotherapy, and hepatocellular carcinoma in the explant liver were independent risk factors for HBV recurrence following LT in multivariate analysis. Patient survival at 10 yr was 54.2% for HBV‐recurrent patients. Among patients with HBV recurrence, HBsAg seroclearance was achieved in 13 patients (20.6%), but HBsAg seroclearance did not affect survival in these patients after the recurrence of HBV (p = 0.28). The recurrence of HBV led to graft failure in six cases. HBV recurrence should be prevented by strict management of pre‐transplant HBV viremia and an effective post‐transplant HBV prophylaxis.     

Risk of de novo hepatitis in liver recipients from hepatitis-B core antibody-positive grafts - a systematic analysis

Skagen CL, Jou JH, Said A. Risk of de novo hepatitis in liver recipients from hepatitis‐B core antibody‐positive grafts – a systematic analysis.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E243–E249. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Many transplant programs utilize liver grafts from hepatitis‐B core antibody (HBcAb)‐positive and hepatitis‐B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative donors. However, there is risk for de novo hepatitis B (DNH) in recipients of these grafts. We reviewed 26 studies reporting the rates of DNH in recipients receiving HBcAb‐positive liver grafts. Four hundred and sixty‐two donor–recipient pairs were included to evaluate the risk of DNH stratified by the recipient’s immune status to hepatitis B and type of prophylactic therapy given, if any. The rate of DNH was highest (58%) in the stratum of hepatitis‐B (HBV) naïve recipients who did not receive prophylaxis. In HBV naïve recipients, prophylactic therapy (lamivudine and/or hepatitis‐B immunoglobulin – HBIG) reduced DNH to 11% (odds ratio [OR] = 11.1, 95% CI 4.98–25, p < 0.0001 for DNH without prophylaxis). Recipients with hepatitis‐B surface antibody (HBsAb) positivity had DNH rates of 18% without prophylaxis and 0% with prophylaxis (OR = 9.2, 95% CI 1.1–83.3, p = 0.039). Recipients with both HBsAb and HBcAb positivity had DNH rates of 4% without prophylaxis and 3% with prophylaxis (p = 1.00), while recipients with HBcAb positivity alone had DNH rates of 14% without prophylaxis and 3% with prophylaxis (p = 0.21). There was no significant difference between the types of HBV prophylaxis received whether lamivudine, HBIG or both. However, in the subgroup who received HBIG alone, rates of DNH were higher after cessation of HBIG prophylaxis compared to DNH rates with indefinite HBIG (p = 0.0002). In summary, the risk of DNH is highest for HBV naïve liver recipients from HBcAb‐positive donors. Recipients who are HBV naïve as well as those recipients with isolated HBsAb positivity derive significant benefit from HBV prophylaxis after transplantation with a HBcAb‐positive graft. The ideal prophylactic regimen for prevention of DNH is unclear, but based on our analysis of the literature, antivirals alone may suffice. More data are needed with the newer antivirals for hepatitis B.     

核苷类似物联合HBIG干预下肝移植后HBV再感染的危险因素及预后分析

目的 探讨肝移植术后在核苷类似物联合低剂量乙肝免疫球蛋白(HBIG)的干预下乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)再感染的危险因素及其预后.方法 回顾性分析340例因HBV相关性终末期肝病行肝移植患者的临床资料.所有患者术前即开始给予核苷类似物控制病情,术中和术后均给予核苷类似物联合低剂量HBIG的预防方案.术后对患者进行定期随访,监测患者的HBV再感染发生率、存活率及预后.记录患者性别、年龄、原发病、术前2周HBV DNA水平、HbeAg水平、YMDD变异以及术后免疫抑制剂和核苷类似物使用情况等指标进行单因素分析,将P<0.1的变量纳入COX多因素回归分析,筛选出影响术后HBV再感染的危险因素.结果 340例患者术后发生HBV再感染33例,再感染率为9.7%,再感染时间为术后(8.4±13.2)个月(2～49个月),术后1、3、5年再感染率分别为7.0%、10%、13%.33例患者HBV再感染后均停用HBIG,并调整核苷类似物的用量,除3例HBV DNA定量为3 log10～5 log10拷贝/ml外,其余均控制在3 log10拷贝/ml以下.340例患者术后1、3、5年存活率分别为89%、83%和82%,其中HBV再感染者分别为94%,87%,81%,未再感染者分别为89%,82%,82%,Log-rank检验显示HBV再感染对患者长期存活率无明显影响(P=0.828).经COX多因素回归分析表明,原发病为原发性肝癌(P=0.035)、HBVDNA定量>5 log10拷贝/ml(P<0.001)是发生HBV再感染的危险因素.进一步分层分析显示,原发性肝癌复发后HBV再感染发生率显著高于未复发者,分别为27.9%和8.7%(P=0.001).结论 原发病为原发性肝癌及术前HBV DNA>5 log10拷贝/ml是影响HBV再感染的高危因素.在核苷类似物联合HBIG预防方案的干预下,HBV再感染对预后影响不大.     

原位肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒再感染的相关因素分析

目的 分析原位肝移植（OLT）术后HBV再感染的相关因素,评价联合应用乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白（HBIG）和核苷（酸）类似物预防HBV再感染的疗效.方法 收集2003年10月-2007年8月在中山大学附属第三医院行OLT治疗的160例HBV相关性终末期肝病患者,117例患者术前服用核苷（酸）类似物.所有患者术后长期肌肉注射HBIG,并联合服用核苷（酸）类似物,采用回顾性调查方法分析患者术前资料,并前瞻性长期随访OLT术后HBV再感染情况.正态分布计量资料2组间的比较采用独立样本t检验;组间率的比较采用Fisher＇s精确概率检验,P〈0.05表示差异具有统计学意义.结果 160例患者中,19例患者出现HBV再感染,再感染率为11.88%（19/160）.患者术前HBV DNA载量、HBeAg状态及抗病毒治疗时间与OLT术后HBV再感染之间无显著相关性（r值分别为0.108、0.127和0.033,P值均〉0.05）.19例HBV再感染患者中有17例是长期使用拉米夫定治疗的患者,其中8例酪氨酸-蛋氨酸-天门冬氨酸-天门冬氨酸（YMDD）变异株阳性,其HBV DNA载量为（7.0±2.0）log拷贝/mL,而YMDD变异阴性组为（3.2±2.5）log拷贝/mL,2组比较差异有统计学意义（t=3.531,P=0.003）.17例长期服用拉米夫定治疗的患者中,12例加用阿德福韦酯,3例改用恩替卡韦,均获得满意疗效.结论 OLT术后长期小剂量肌肉注射HBIG,并联合核苷（酸）类似物可有效预防HBV再感染.OLT术后使用拉米夫定易出现YMDD变异,而YMDD变异是HBV再感染的重要因素,临床上要予以重视.     

Prophylaxis of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation in carriers of lamivudine-resistant mutants.

The combination of lamivudine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). However, the efficacy of this strategy and the need for combined therapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients who select lamivudine-resistant strains (YMDD) before surgery is still unknown. Twenty-two patients treated with lamivudine (LAM) who underwent LT after YMDD-mutant selection were studied. In 13 patients, YMDD mutants were associated with an HBV DNA breakthrough greater than 5 log10 (group A: phenotypic resistance), and 11 were treated with ADV to decrease viral load before LT. In the remaining 9 patients who did not experience the viral breakthrough, YMDD mutants were detected only retrospectively in sera stored at the time of LT (group B: genotypic resistance). During 35 months of post-LT follow-up, none of the 11 patients of group A treated with ADV before and after surgery (in addition to HBIG and LAM) had HBV recurrence, and neither did any of the 7 subjects of group B treated with LAM before and after transplantation (in addition to HBIG). HBV recurred in 2 patients of group A (untreated with ADV before surgery and transplanted with an HBV DNA exceeding 5 log10) and in 2 subjects of group B (who spontaneously stopped HBIG after surgery). In carriers of YMDD mutants, the risk of post-LT HBV recurrence is low, provided that preemptive and prophylactic ADV (in addition to LAM and HBIG) treatment is used in highly viremic patients and prophylactic LAM (or ADV) and HBIG therapy is continued in low viremic patients.     

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. CONCLUSION: 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.     

Intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and nucleosides for prevention of recurrent hepatitis B following liver transplantation: comparison with other HBIG regimens

High titer hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) has significantly reduced the recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after liver transplantation. We compared our experience with intramuscular (IM) HBIG prophylaxis to our earlier outcomes with intravenous (IV) HBIG and other regimens. Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B underwent liver transplant at the Baylor Regional Transplant Center between July 1985 and July of 2005. Of these, 63 (43%) received long-term low-dose IM (n = 17) or high-dose IV (n = 46) HBIG. All patients in IM group also received a nucleoside before and after transplant. These patients were compared with those transplanted earlier who received either no prophylaxis (n = 16) or HBIG on day zero and one only (n = 44). Results: HBV recurrence was significantly lower in patients who received long-term HBIG [9/38 (23.7%) for IV and 1/17 (5.9%) for IM] compared with patients who received no treatment (8/11; 72.7%) or only two doses of HBIG (32/40; 80.0%). Two-yr actuarial survivals were 89%, 88%, 54%, and 64%, respectively. Patients on long-term HBIG by either parenteral route survived as well as patients transplanted for other indications. Post-transplant recurrence of hepatitis B in the long-term HBIG groups was usually controlled by intensifying antiviral therapy. Conclusion: Long-term low-dose IM and high-dose IV HBIG are equally efficacious with similar survival and early hepatitis recurrence rates. Graft loss is usually avoidable when recurrence is discovered early and aggressively treated. The IM route is preferable to IV administration due to its ease of administration and lower cost.     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 1, hepatitis B

Abstract The outcome of OLT for HBV-related liver disease is dependent on the prevention of allograft re-infection. Over the past decade, major advances have been made in the management of HBV transplant candidates. The advent of long-term hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) administration as a prophylaxis against HBV recurrence, and the introduction of new antiviral agents against HBV infection, such as lamivudine (LAM), were a major breakthrough in the management of these patients. Results of OLT for HBV infection are similar to those achieved with other indications. Pre-OLT antiviral treatment such as LAM can suppress HBV replication before OLT and thus decrease the risk of re-infection of the graft. Combination prophylaxis with LAM and HBIG after transplantation highly effectively reduces the rate of HBV re-infection, even in HBV replicative cirrhotic, patients. The optimal HBIG protocol in the LAM era is yet to be defined: dosing of HBIG, routes of administration, and possibility of stopping HBIG. Several antiviral drugs have been developed for the management of HBV infection on the graft, so outcome is currently good.     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 1, hepatitis B

The outcome of OLT for HBV-related liver disease is dependent on the prevention of allograft re-infection. Over the past decade, major advances have been made in the management of HBV transplant candidates. The advent of long-term hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) administration as a prophylaxis against HBV recurrence, and the introduction of new antiviral agents against HBV infection, such as lamivudine (LAM), were a major breakthrough in the management of these patients. Results of OLT for HBV infection are similar to those achieved with other indications. Pre-OLT antiviral treatment such as LAM can suppress HBV replication before OLT and thus decrease the risk of re-infection of the graft. Combination prophylaxis with LAM and HBIG after transplantation highly effectively reduces the rate of HBV re-infection, even in HBV replicative cirrhotic patients. The optimal HBIG protocol in the LAM era is yet to be defined: dosing of HBIG, routes of administration, and possibility of stopping HBIG. Several antiviral drugs have been developed for the management of HBV infection on the graft, so outcome is currently good.     

YMDD变异患者肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒再感染的防治(附14例报告)

目的探讨YMDD变异受者肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)再感染的防治策略及效果。方法回顾性分析14例在肝移植前伴有YMDD变异的HBV感染相关疾病受者的临床资料,14例受者在接受肝移植后,使用小剂量肌内注射乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白(HBIG)联合阿德福韦预防术后HBV再感染。结果14例YMDD变异患者平均随访43.2个月,2例死亡,均与HBV再感染无关;移植术后血清中HBsAg和HBV-DNA平均转阴时间为12 d(3～21 d);2例患者分别于术后11个月和22个月出现HBV再感染,排除停药干扰外,实际再感染率为7%(1/14),HBV再感染后经积极治疗HBV-DNA均转阴,肝功能正常,未见阿德福韦相关肾毒性。术前HBV-DNA≥1.0×106copies/ml者术后再感染率高于术前HBV-DNA1.0×106copies/ml者,但比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论小剂量HBIG联合阿德福韦可安全有效地预防YMDD变异患者肝移植术后HBV再感染。     

Liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B with lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant using add-on adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine.

Lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may improve clinical state and suppress viral replication before liver transplantation. Emergence of lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant is common. We report the results of liver transplantation in 16 patients with pretransplantation YMDD mutants after receiving lamivudine treatment for a median of 738 days (range, 400-1799 days). Adefovir dipivoxil (10 mg daily) was added on to lamivudine for a median of 20 days (range, 8-271 days) before (n = 11) or at (n = 5) liver transplantation, and the combination was continued indefinitely thereafter. Eight patients received additional intravenous hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for a median of 24 months. Fifteen patients with known pre-adefovir HBV DNA levels had a median titer of 14,200 x 10(3) copies/mL (2 x 10(3) to 4,690,000 x 10(3) copies/mL), and 14 had HBV DNA >10(5) copies/mL. All but 1 patient remained positive for HBV DNA (by quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR]) at the time of liver transplantation, and the titer was greater than10(5) copies/mL in 8 patients. The median follow-up after liver transplantation was 21.1 (range, 4.4-68.9) months. One patient (6%) died of an unrelated cause 12.2 months after transplantation, and 15 patients (94%) were alive with the original graft. All patients cleared HBV DNA and had no detectable HBV DNA by qPCR at the latest follow-up. Fourteen patients had cleared hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but 2 patients who received only adefovir dipivoxil and lamivudine without HBIG remained HBsAg positive after 7.7 and 9.5 months. Serum HBV DNA, however, was negative, and there was no biochemical or histological evidence of recurrence. Adefovir dipivoxil was well tolerated with no significant renal toxicity. In conclusion, a combination of add-on adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine therapy provides effective prophylaxis in patients with pretransplantation YMDD mutant that may be actively replicating. The cost effectiveness of additional passive immunoprophylaxis remains to be defined.     

Treatment of hepatitis B reinfection after liver transplantation

Patients with chronic replicative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who undergo orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the absence of prophylactic antiviral therapy have a high risk of graft reinfection. Serial monitoring of serum HBV DNA and HBV sequence analysis, especially of the polymerase and the "a" epitope of the surface antigen, may be a requisite diagnostic tool in order to provide optimal therapeutic management for inhibition of viral replication before and after OLT. Combination therapy with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and lamivudine has been widely adopted as an effective prophylactic treatment regimen against recurrent HBV disease. The major issue of concern has been the development of lamivudine resistance due to the emergence of mutations in the YMDD motif of the HBV DNA polymerase gene. Among newer antivirals, adefovir dipivoxil and entecavir have been demonstrated to be effective against both wild-type and lamivudine resistant mutants. Due to the availability of antiviral drugs, outcome of patient and graft survival has dramatically improved and has become similar or even better as compared to patients with non-HBV-related liver diseases.     

Outcomes of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation

The introduction of high doses of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and lamivudine for liver transplantation (OLT) prophylaxis has reduced the risk of hepatitis B recurrence and improved the survival of patients transplanted for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease. But, posttransplant prophylaxis strategies to treat the recurrence of HBV have not yet been standardized. We analyzed 23 patients with HBV recurrence among 340 HBV-associated liver transplants performed from September 1996 to April 2004 (6.7%). Nine patients underwent deceased donor OLT and 14, living donor OLT. Mean follow-up was 37 months. Seroconversion after recurrence was observed in 6 of 23 patients (26%). Mean time to HBV recurrence tended to be shorter among the seroconversion (+) patients compared to seroconversion (-) patients (10 months vs 19.7 months; P = .062). Seroconversion rate after HBIG and lamivudine combination therapy for patients with HBV recurrence was 37.5% and time to seroconversion after HBV recurrence was 1.7 months. Seroconversion was best achieved when the pretransplant HBV DNA level was high and HBeAg was positive. Also, seroconversion rate was increased when HBV DNA level was low and the alanine transferase level high at the time of recurrence and when the time to recurrence after transplantation was short. Seroconversion after HBV recurrence, which was observed in 26%, may be increased in selected cases. Accordingly, aggressive treatment should be undertaken after HBV recurrence.     

拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎患者三年的疗效观察

目的探讨拉米夫定（lamivudine,LAM）长期治疗HBeAg阳性和HBeAg阴性的两组慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者相关指标之间的关系。方法将63例入院诊断为CHB的患者分为HBeAg阳性CHB患者组（30例）及HBeAg阴性CHB患者组（33例）,拉米夫定100mg/d治疗,进行3年的随访观察,同时检测HBV血清标志物、HBV DNA、ALT、AFP等生化指标,并进行χ2检验来分析两组之间的关系。结果 63例CHB患者中,HBeAg阳性患者30例（47.6%）,HBeAg阴性33例（52.4%）。拉米夫定治疗两组患者间ALT复常率、HBV DNA阴转率、肝细胞癌发生率及HBsAg阴转率两组比较差异均无统计学意义;其YMDD变异率、肝硬化的发生率两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。HBeAg阳性组YMDD变异率为43.3%,显著高于HBeAg阴性组的18.2%（χ^2=4.720,P〈0.05）;HBeAg阴性组肝硬化患者占37.0%,显著高于HBeAg阳性组的5.9%（χ^2=3.866,P〈0.05）。结论拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阳性CHB患者较HBeAg阴性患者更易发生YMDD变异,HBeAg阴性CHB患者较HBeAg阳性患者更易发生肝硬化。     

Outcome of lamivudine resistant hepatitis B virus mutant post-liver transplantation on lamivudine monoprophylaxis

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the clinical outcome of patients who develop lamivudine resistant hepatitis B virus mutants (YMDD mutants) after liver transplantation. METHODS: Patients who received liver transplantation for hepatitis B-related liver diseases from 1999 to 2002 were studied. All patients received lamivudine monotherapy before and after liver transplantation. HBsAg and HBV DNA were regularly monitored, and YMDD mutation was detected by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Twenty patients were followed up for median 94 wk (range: 15-177 wk) post-liver transplantation. Six patients developed YMDD mutants, and the cumulative probability of developing YMDD mutations post-liver transplantation was 21% in 1 yr and 34% in 2 yr. One patient developed YMDD mutants before liver transplantation and died of hepatitis reactivation and liver failure 15 wk post-transplantation. The other five patients developed YMDD mutants 32-72 wk after liver transplantation. Two of them developed severe hepatitis which responded promptly to adefovir dipivoxil. The remaining three patients with YMDD mutants had minimal to mild hepatitis. The cumulative survival for patients with YMDD mutants was 83% and 28% at 1 and 2 yr, respectively. Only one patient who did not develop YMDD mutants died at week 119 due to chronic rejection. The post-transplant survival for patients with YMDD mutants was significantly poorer than those without YMDD mutants (log rank test p = 0.083). CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of YMDD mutants after liver transplantation on lamivudine monoprophylaxis had wide range of clinical presentations and was associated with increased mortality.     

恩替卡韦治疗中国人慢性乙型肝炎疗效的系统评价

目的系统评价恩替卡韦（entecavir,ETV）治疗中国成人慢性乙型肝炎（chronichepati—tisB,CHB）的疗效。方法检索国内2005-2008年2月公开发表ETV治疗成人CHB的随机对照试验（RCT）并提取纳入研究的特征信息,运用Revman 4．2软件对HBV DNA转阴率、AⅡ复常率、HBeAg阴转率及药物的不良反应进行分析。结果共有7篇RCT文献纳入本研究,包含833例CHB患者,对照组使用拉米夫定（1amivudine,LVD）或阿德福韦酯（adefovir,ADV）治疗。研究表明,ETV组HBV DNA转阴率、ALT复常率均明显高于对照组（76．4％VS43．0％,89．6％ vs 77．7％）,OR值分别为4．46（95％CI为3．28-6．06,P〈0．00001）和2．48（95％CI1．67-3．48,P〈0．00001）;两组HBeAg阴转率类似（23．3％ vs 20．2％）,0R值为1．82（95％CI为0．46-7．15,P=0．39）;入选文献所报道的药物不良反应也无明显差异。结论恩替卡韦可强效、安全抑制HBV复制、改善肝功能,治疗国人CHB的疗效优于拉米夫定或阿德福韦酯。