Prevention and treatment of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of liver transplantation on end-stage hepatitis B related liverdiseases, and the prevention and treatment strategies of hepatitis B recurrence after the transplantation.METHODS: The efficacy of combined treatment of lamivudine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG)therapy on 24 patients who had received liver transplantation was retrospectively studied.RESULTS: All the 24 patients with end-stage hepatitis B-related liver diseases treated with lamivudinealone or combined therapy of lamivudine and HBIG showed normal liver function and 21 of them losthepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. However, the remaining 3 patients became HBsAg positive again soonafter liver transplantation.CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is effective for patients with end-stage hepatitis B-related liverdiseases. Combined treatment of lamivudine and HBIG may prevent the recurrence of hepatitis B after theoperation.