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Hepatitis B virus and liver transplantation: concepts in antiviral prophylaxis
Author(s) -
Grellier L.,
Dusheiko G. M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.1997.tb00171.x
Subject(s) - lamivudine , hepatitis b immune globulin , medicine , hepatitis b virus , famciclovir , liver transplantation , hepatitis b , virology , transplantation , hepatitis d virus , immunology , liver disease , virus , gastroenterology , hbsag
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.