Open AccessLiver transplantation for HB sAg‐positive recipients using grafts from HB sAg‐positive deceased donors
Author(s) -
Choi YoungRok,
Choi Jong Young,
Yi NamJoon,
Lee Kyoungbun,
Mori Shozo,
Hong Geun,
Kim Hyeyoung,
Park MinSu,
Yoo Tae,
Suh SukWon,
Lee Hae Won,
Lee KwangWoong,
Suh KyungSuk
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/tri.12177
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , gastroenterology , hbeag , liver biopsy , hepatitis b , transplantation , hepatology , antiviral treatment , surgery , hepatitis b virus , biopsy , immunology , chronic hepatitis , virus
Summary This study reports our experience using deceased donor liver grafts from HBsAg‐positive donors. We performed eight cases of liver transplantation (LT) using grafts from deceased HBsAg‐positive donors between November 2005 and October 2010. The median age of donors was 48 years (range: 26–64). HBV DNA in the serum of donors ranged from 44 to 395 IU/ml, but HBeAg in all donors was negative. Preoperative laboratory and liver biopsy samples revealed the absence of definitive cirrhotic features and hepatitis. All recipients showed HBsAg positive preoperatively except one patient with HBsAg(−) status post previous LT for HBV related liver cirrhosis. The median age was 60 years (range: 46–76) at LT. Post‐LT antiviral management consisted of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and antiviral nucleos(t)ide analogues. The median follow‐up period was 25.5 months (range: 14–82). Of eight recipients, two recipients experienced serum HBsAg and HBV DNA disappearance postoperatively. Three recipients died of HBV‐unrelated causes. The remaining five recipients were stable with normal liver function and no marked pathologic changes on follow‐up biopsies. This experience shows that LT using grafts from deceased HBsAg‐positive donors is feasible, and may represent a valuable expansion of the pool of organ donors with appropriate antiviral management and monitoring.