Hepatitis B virus and liver transplantation: concepts in antiviral prophylaxis |
| |
Authors: | L Grellier G M Dusheiko |
| |
Institution: | Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK |
| |
Abstract: | Summary. Liver transplantation remains problematic in patients with end-stage liver disease secondary to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recurrent hepatitis is almost universal in those patients who are HBV DNA-positive prior to transplantation. Prophylactic hepatitis B immune globulin can be given to reduce the rate of hepatitis B recurrence in patients who are HBV DNA-negative prior to transplantation. More recently novel antiviral drugs such as lamivudine or famciclovir have been used specifically to inhibit hepatitis B viral replication. However, the development of drug-resistant viral mutants have been observed. Further studies are needed to investigate these drugs more extensively, particularly to assess whether combination therapy may be a more effective means of controlling viral recurrence in patients transplanted for chronic HBV infection. |
| |
Keywords: | hepatitis B virus liver transplantation treatment |
|
|