Prevention of de novo hepatitis B virus infection in living donor liver transplantation using hepatitis B core antibody positive donors

Exclusion of liver grafts from hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive donors to prevent de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after liver transplantation is not feasible in areas highly endemic for HBV virus like Taiwan, where approximately 80% of adults are anti-HBc(+). The efficacy of lamivudine monotherapy to prevent de novo HBV infection after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using grafts from anti-HBc(+) donors remains to be elucidated. From June 1994 to August 2000, LDLT was performed in 42 recipients. Twenty-four of the 42 donors were anti-HBc(+) (57%). Pre-transplant HBV vaccination was given to all recipients irrespective of anti-HBc status at monthly intervals for 3 months. Until December 1997, eight recipients received liver grafts from anti-HBc(+) donors without prophylaxis. Since January 1998, prophylaxis with lamivudine monotherapy was given to 16 recipients receiving liver grafts from anti-HBc(+) donors. De novo HBV infection occurred in three of the eight recipients (37.5%) who did not receive prophylaxis, while none of the 16 recipients given lamivudine developed de novo HBV infection after a mean follow-up of 25 months. Two of the three recipients with de novo HBV infection were anti-HBs(-) and one recipient was anti-HBs(+). Lamivudine was well tolerated, and no side effects were noted. These results suggest that lamivudine monotherapy for recipients receiving anti-HBc(+) liver grafts is a simple, relatively inexpensive and effective prophylactic regimen for prevention of de novo HBV infection. The additive protection provided by vaccine-induced or natural immunity is uncertain.     

儿童活体肝移植受者术后新发乙型肝炎病毒感染的临床研究

目的  探讨儿童活体肝移植术后新发乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染的临床特点及其防治策略。方法  2010年7月至2014年7月, 在首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院移植中心和天津一中心医院器官移植中心接受活体肝移植术的106例儿童受者纳入本研究, 所有手术由同一外科团队完成。根据供者术前HBV血清学标志物的结果, 将儿童受者分为供肝乙型肝炎核心抗体(抗-HBc)阳性组(45例)和供肝抗-HBc阴性组(61例)。了解两组儿童受者的新发HBV感染情况, 分析供肝抗-HBc阳性组儿童受者新发HBV感染的危险因素, 了解新发HBV感染患儿的特征。结果  供肝抗-HBc阳性组和阴性组新发HBV感染发生率分别为18%(8/45)和2%(1/61)。受者术前抗-HBs阴性、术后无抗病毒治疗是抗-HBc阳性供肝受者新发HBV感染的危险因素(均为P < 0.05)。发病距移植手术的中位数时间12个月(8~48个月)。9例儿童受者中, 接受拉米夫定治疗7例, 未予抗病毒治疗2例, 均全部存活。结论  应用抗-HBc阳性供肝的儿童肝移植受者, 其术后存在感染HBV的风险。受者术前抗-HBs阴性、术后未给予预防性核苷类似物治疗是抗-HBc阳性供肝受者新发HBV感染的危险因素。接受供体抗-HBc阳性的肝移植儿童受体应使用核苷类似物预防新发HBV感染, 移植术前亦要加强对其接种乙肝疫苗。     

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.     

拉米呋定与乙肝疫苗预防HBcAb阳性供肝儿童肝移植术后新发乙肝病毒感染效果的对照研究

目的 比较拉米呋定与乙肝疫苗方案预防乙型肝炎核心抗体(hepatitis B core antibody,HBcAb)阳性供肝儿童肝移植术后新发乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)感染效果.方法 对天津市第一中心医院自2013年5月—2019年6月251例接受HBcAb阳性供肝儿童肝移植的资料进行...     

Active Immunization to Prevent De Novo Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Pediatric Live Donor Liver Recipients

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of HBV vaccination as an alternative preventive measure against de novo HBV infection in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Sixty recipients were enrolled in this study. Thirty received grafts from anti-HBc(+) donors, and another 30 received grafts from anti-HBc(-) donors. HBV vaccine was given pretransplant to every candidate. Posttransplant, lamivudine was routinely given to recipients receiving anti-HBc(+) grafts for about 2 years. Forty-seven (78%) recipients achieved high levels of anti-HBs titer (>1000 IU/L). Two (3.3%) recipients developed de novo HBV infection where one received an anti-HBc(-) graft and another received an anti-HBc(+) graft. Both recipients were in the lower anti-HBs titer group (<1000 IU/L). The incidence of de novo HBV infection was significantly higher in the lower titer group (15.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.04). The median follow-up period was 51 months in recipients with anti-HBc(-) grafts and 57 months in those with anti-HBc(+) grafts. Active immunization is an effective method to prevent de novo HBV infection. It can result in high levels of anti-HBs titer (>1000 IU/L) which may prevent de novo HBV infection in pediatric patients with efficient primary vaccination undergoing LDLT.     

肝移植术后新发乙型肝炎病毒感染的临床分析

目的 总结肝移植术后新发乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染的临床特点,探讨其防治策略.方法 回顾分析2000年1月至2010年12月间接受肝移植的受者及术后新发HBV感染受者的临床资料.结果 术前乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)阴性者365例,其中11例术后新发HBV感染,发生率为3.0％(11/365),多数受者无任何临床症状,仅在术后复查时发现HBsAg阳性,而肝功能正常.11例受者术后发现HBsAg阳性及HBV DNA处于复制状态后,均给予抗病毒治疗,1例原发病为丙型肝炎后肝硬化合并原发性肝癌的受者给予长效干扰素治疗,随后HBV DNA出现变异株,改用恩替卡韦治疗,其余10例受者均采用核苷类似物药物进行抗病毒治疗.有10例受者在术中应用了乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白(HBIG).经抗HBV治疗后,1例治疗无效进展为急性肝功能衰竭而死亡,1例因肿瘤复发转移而死亡,其余9例均存活.存活的9例受者中,1例出现乙型肝炎e抗原(HBeAg)转阴,4例HBV DNA复制水平为阴性(＜1×l05拷贝/L),所有存活受者的肝功能均正常.结论 对于术前HBsAg阴性的受者在接受肝移植时,应严格筛查其所输注的血液制品;对于术前HBsAg阴性,且接受了乙型肝炎核心抗体和(或)HBV DNA阳性供肝的高危受者,术中及术后应常规使用HBIG及核苷类似物进行必要的抗乙肝治疗是预防术后新发HBV感染较为理想的策略,预后较好.     

Long-term results of famciclovir for recurrent or de novo hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation

Since the introduction of famciclovir in the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after liver transplantation, promising results have been published. In this study, the long-term efficacy and safety of famciclovir were assessed. Twenty-four patients with recurrent hepatitis B and 6 patients with de novo infection after liver transplantation were enrolled in an open prospective trial. Patients received oral famciclovir, 500 mg three times daily. Serum HBV-DNA, viral serology, and liver enzymes were measured sequentially; liver histology was taken before and during treatment in 12 patients. In the reinfected patients, 17 patients initially responded well to treatment, with a mean decrease of HBV-DNA of 82%, 5 patients became HBV-DNA negative. The drug was effective for 1-51 months (mean 16 months), then viral replication increased again in 13 out of 17 patients. One patient did not respond to treatment. Six out of 24 patients already had severe cirrhosis at the time of enrollment and died shortly afterwards, due to the HBV infection. The 6 patients with de novo infection all had a decline of HBV-DNA for 2-42 months (mean 14 months); 1 patient converted to HBV-DNA negative. Five out of 6 patients experienced a viral breakthrough later on. No severe side-effects were observed. Therefore, famciclovir is effective in certain HBV-infected patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), but in the long term, most of the patients relapse.     

Dual hepatitis virus infections in liver transplant: case report and a review of the literature

Abstract: Background: Liver transplantation (LT) using grafts from anti‐HBVcore antibody‐positive (anti‐HBVcAB+) donors carry risk for development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The long‐term course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients receiving anti‐HBVcAB+ grafts is poorly understood. Patients and methods: A patient with chronic hepatitis C received an anti‐HBVc+ graft and developed de novo hepatitis B after four months. We describe the 14 HCV patients who received antiHBVc+ grafts and the condition of disease. Results: Hepatitis B was treated successfully with lamivudine. One year later, breakthrough infection developed with a lamivudine‐resistant mutant. Addition of adefovir led to HBV surface antigen to surface antibody seroconversion after two yr, which was maintained long term. Antiviral therapy was discontinued. Liver biopsy revealed minimal histologic changes up to eight yr post‐LT. Survival of 14 recipients of antiHBVc+ allografts and 180 recipients of antiHBVc‐negative grafts was equal (minimum follow up of five yr). Liver biopsies at four yr showed grade 0/1 and stage 0/1 in >70%; only two patients showed bridging fibrosis. A literature review of dual hepatitis virus infection revealed an overall milder course of hepatitis post‐LT. Conclusion: The outcome of HCV patients receiving anti‐HBc+ grafts is good and may be associated with a milder course of recurrent HCV.     

Long-term lamivudine monotherapy prevents development of hepatitis B virus infection in hepatitis B surface-antigen negative liver transplant recipients from hepatitis B core-antibody-positive donors

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation from hepatitis B core-antibody (HBcAb)-positive donors to hepatitis B surface-antigen (HBsAg)-negative recipients has been associated with a risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the absence of antiviral prophylaxis. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of long-term lamivudine monotherapy to prevent development of HBV infection in HBsAg-negative recipients of liver allografts from HBcAb-positive donors. METHODS: From 315 cadaveric adult liver transplantations performed at our unit between July 1999 and March 2005, 18 recipients (5.7%) received liver allografts from HBcAb-positive donors, 13 of whom were HBsAg-negative pre-transplantation. The recipients consisted of four females and 14 males, age range 28-65 yr (median 49.5 yr). Post-transplantation, HBsAg-negative recipients were administered lamivudine 100 mg daily long term. HBsAg-positive recipients were administered low-dose hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) and lamivudine according to our usual protocol. Standard post-transplantation immunosuppression was given. Recipients were followed up regularly (range 2-69 months, median 21 months) for development of de novo HBV infection. RESULTS: Ten HBsAg-negative recipients received long-term lamivudine. One patient (HBcAb and HBsAb positive pre-transplant) did not receive lamivudine and, in two patients, lamivudine was discontinued following urgent re-transplantation for primary graft non-function. All 13 of the HBsAg-negative recipients were still alive, with no evidence of HBV infection at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Long-term lamivudine monotherapy was effective in preventing development of HBV infection in HBsAg-negative liver transplant recipients from HBcAb-positive donors.     

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C: relationship with donor age and fibrosis progression

Abstract:  Liver transplantation (OLT) recipients who receive a graft from donors positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) anti-core antibodies may develop overt " de novo " HBV infection. The study was undertaken to explore how often HBV infection may remain occult after OLT for hepatitis C, and whether it may represent a factor of graft fibrosis progression. We studied 30 consecutive patients transplanted for hepatitis C liver disease. Specimens from the native liver and from the graft were searched for occult HBV infection (O-HBV). In the native liver, 8/30 patients had detectable O-HBV; during the follow-up, O-HBV infection was demonstrated in 14 graft specimens. Graft O-HBV was associated with older donor age (≥50 yr; 8/9 vs. 6/21, p < 0.005). Recipients with graft O-HBV and no O-HBV in the native liver who received their grafts from donors aged >40 yr had faster fibrosis progression than recipients with no post-transplant O-HBV, whose grafts came from donors aged >40 yr and recipients whose grafts came from donors aged ≤40 yr (4/7 vs. 1/7 vs. 2/16, p < 0.05). In OLT recipients, O-HBV is more likely to occur when grafts are obtained from aged donors and may affect the rate of fibrosis progression because of recurrent hepatitis C.     

Emergency living related liver transplantation for fulminant reactivation of hepatitis B virus after unrelated marrow transplantation

We report a unique case of emergency living related donor orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for late fulminant reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after matched unrelated bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Cessation of lamivudine after BMT for HBV positive patients may carry risks of late fatal HBV reactivation. Similar to fulminant HBV reactivation in the general population, OLT under resumption of lamivudine can be life saving. In our case, concomitantly molecular relapse of CML at the time of liver failure was also cleared by OLT, possibly via a 'liver-graft vs. leukemia' effect. Liver rejection (graft vs. graft disease) was mild due to inherent immunocompromise of the marrow graft. Hence BMT recipients in stable remission should not be denied the opportunity for life-saving solid organ transplantation. A choice of marrow and liver donors with innate HBV immunity may be needed to give the additional advantage of long-term HBV clearance.     

121例重型乙型肝炎肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒再感染的防治

目的 探讨重型乙型肝炎肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)再感染的防治.方法 回顾性分析了121例重型乙型肝炎患者,移植前后给予抗病毒药物预防乙型肝炎病毒再感染,拉米夫定 乙肝免疫球蛋白(HBIg)114例,阿德福韦 拉米夫定 HBIg 4例,恩替卡韦 HBIg 3例,观察临床症状、血清HBsAg、血清HBeAg、血清HBV DNA及肝活检免疫组织化学检测等指标.结果 用拉米夫定 HBIg预防的114例患者中,有4例出现再感染,表现为血清HBsAg阳性,肝活检免疫组织化学检测有HBsAg表达,其中3例经治疗后HBsAg转阴.用阿德福韦 拉米夫定 HBIg或恩替卡韦 HBIg预防的7例中,血清学和肝活检免疫组织化学检测均无HBsAg表达.结论 拉米夫定 HBIg、拉米夫定 阿德福韦 HBIg或恩替卡韦 HBIg的联合应用以及合理使用免疫抑制剂可以有效预防重型乙型肝炎患者移植术后乙型肝炎病毒的再感染.     

Beneficial Effects of Short-Term Lamivudine Treatment for de novo Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation After Liver Transplantation

Clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by lamivudine is achieved in only a small proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We investigated the effect of lamivudine on de novo HBV reactivation after living-donor liver transplantation when the number of HBV was expected to be very small. Thirty-eight HBV-naive recipients who received liver grafts from antibodies to core antigen-positive donors receiving hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) were studied. HBsAg appeared in nine cases (23.7 %) despite receiving HBIG for 12-71 months (mean: 35.1 months) after transplantation. Lamivudine treatment was started in six recipients during the acute phase of HBV reactivation. Five of the six recipients achieved complete clearance of HBsAg in sera at a median of 4.6 months (ranging from 21 to 330 days) after lamivudine administration. Although lamivudine was stopped in four cases, all remained negative for HBsAg. Our findings suggested that short-term lamivudine treatment during acute phase of HBV reactivation could achieve complete clearance of HBsAg in a significant number of liver transplant recipients.     

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.     

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.     

Lamivudine monoprophylaxis for de novo HBV infection in HBsAg-negative recipients with HBcAb-positive liver grafts

We followed the efficacy of long-term lamivudine monotherapy in preventing development of de novo hepatitis B (DNHB) in a large cohort of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative recipients with grafts from hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)-positive donors. Recipients were observed over a long follow-up. Between July 1999 and December 2008, 45 patients (median age 54, range 19-67) who were HBsAg negative before transplantation were included in the study of monoprophylaxis with lamivudine starting on post-operative day 1, and continuing for life. Mean follow-up: 37.9 months; median 32.1 months (range 2.4-117). No suspension of therapy was reported during the study. Post-transplantation, no DNHB was observed in follow-up: all 45 HBsAg-negative recipients remained HBsAg and HBV DNA negative. Thirty-four of these HBsAg-negative recipients were alive at conclusion of the study. A total of 11 patients died, five of HCV recurrence, two of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, two of disseminated KSV infection, and two of multiorgan failure because of early graft dysfunction. Patient and graft survival of HBsAg-negative recipients with HBcAb-positive donor grafts (45 cases) were not significantly different from those of the HBsAg-negative recipients with HBcAb-negative donor grafts (302 cases). In our experience, lamivudine monoprophylaxis provided complete protection against HBV reactivation and showed long-term efficacy.     

Safety of using hepatitis B virus core antibody or surface antigen-positive donors in kidney or pancreas transplantation

Hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBcAb) or surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive organ donors have the potential to transmit infection to transplant recipients. We investigated the safety of using HBcAb(+) or HBsAg(+) donors in kidney or pancreas transplant recipients with 1 yr lamivudine prophylaxis. While HBsAb(-) recipients of HBcAb(+) donors received prophylaxis, HBsAb(+) recipients did not. HBsAg(+) organs were only used in patients who were both HBcAb and HBsAb(+). Forty-six patients received HBcAb(+) and four received HBsAg(+) organs (47 kidney, two pancreas, and one kidney/pancreas). All but one recipient were HBsAg(-), 25 were HBsAb(+), and 19 HBcAb(+). During a median 36 months of follow-up (range 6-66 months), with 43 of a total 50 patients having at least 1 yr follow-up and were off lamivudine, and none of the patients developed hepatitis B viremia or seroconversion to HBsAg or HBsAb(+). These results suggest that HBcAb(+) or HBsAg(+) organs can be used safely in selected recipients with lamivudine prophylaxis without requiring hepatitis B immunglobulin.     

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.     

Hepatitis B core‐related antigen to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in heart transplant recipients with past HBV infection: A pilot study

Hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) has been proposed as a new marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. We analyzed HBcrAg dynamics in 15 heart transplant recipients with active or prior HBV infection and correlated it with quantitative (QT)‐HBsAg and HBV‐DNA pre‐ and post‐transplant. Serum HBcrAg was detected in HBsAg/HBV‐DNA‐positive subjects but not in recipients with past HBV infection. HBcrAg levels correlated with QT‐HBsAg in pre‐ and post‐transplant samples. In prior HBV infection, HBcrAg levels were unrelated to HBV‐DNA positivity. In heart transplant recipients with prior HBV infection, HBcrAg does not correlate with viral replication and cannot be applied to detect HBV reactivation during follow‐up.