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Occult hepatitis B virus infection predicts de novo hepatitis B infection in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis after liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Xie Man,
Rao Wei,
Yang Tao,
Deng Yonglin,
Zheng Hong,
Pan Cheng,
Liu Yihe,
Shen Zhongyang,
Jia Jidong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/liv.12567
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , hepatitis b virus , gastroenterology , occult , hbsag , alcoholic liver disease , alcoholic hepatitis , hepatitis b , antibody , transplantation , virology , virus , immunology , pathology , alternative medicine
Background & Aims Occult hepatitis B virus infection ( OBI ) in patients undergoing liver transplantation ( LT ) is a suspected source of de novo hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) infection after LT . This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of OBI in liver transplant recipients with alcoholic cirrhosis and demonstrate the association between OBI and de novo HBV infection after LT in these patients. Methods Forty‐three patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who were negative for HB sAg before LT were recruited in this retrospective study. DNA was extracted from paraffin‐embedded native liver tissues and quantified for HBV DNA by real‐time PCR . Correlation between de novo HBV infection after LT (positive HB sAg and/or detectable HBV DNA in serum) and detection of intrahepatic HBV DNA before LT was analysed. Results Detectable HBV DNA in the explanted liver was found in 41.9% (18/43) of the patients and was thus defined as OBI , which was correlated with the presence of serum hepatitis B core antibody ( P = 0.008). De novo HBV infection occurred in 18.6% (8/43) of the recipients at a median of 10 months after LT . The rate of de novo HBV infection was 38.9% (7/18) in patients with OBI , compared with 4% (1/25) in patients without OBI ( P = 0.004). Furthermore, de novo HBV infection was inversely correlated with the presence of hepatitis B surface antibody in recipients with OBI ( P = 0.026). Conclusion With a prevalence of 41.9% in liver transplant recipients with alcoholic cirrhosis, OBI in the native liver can predict de novo HBV infection after LT .