Outcomes of Long-Term Administration of Intravenous Hepatitis B Immunoglobulins for the Prevention of Recurrent Hepatitis B After Liver Transplantation

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http://www.transplantation-proceedings.org/article/PIIS0041134510010560/abstract\

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TRANSPLANTATION PROCEEDINGS

Volume 42, Issue 10, Pages 4399-4402 (December 2010)

Outcomes of Long-Term Administration of Intravenous Hepatitis B Immunoglobulins

for the Prevention of Recurrent Hepatitis B After Liver Transplantation

K. Pauwelyn, D. Cassiman, W. Laleman, C. Verslype, D. Monbaliu, R. Aerts, W. Van

Steenbergen, J. Pirenne, F. Nevens

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of lifelong

therapy with intravenous hepatitis B immunoglobulins (IV HBIg) to prevent

recurrence of hepatitis B after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study of the long-term outcome of 56

patients who were transplanted for active hepatitis B–related liver disease. In

addition to IV HBIg, patients received antiviral therapy for at least 1 year.

Results

1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 95%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. None of

the patients died due to hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related complications. In 3

patients (5%), a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative status was not

reached. All of these patients had a very high viral load at the time of OLT.

HBsAg and HBV DNA reappeared in 6 patients (11%): In 1 patient, recurrence

occurred 9 months after OLT while still under combination treatment with

lamivudine, and 2 patients were temporarily treated abroad with intramuscular

HBIg. Only 3 patients suffered from HBV recurrence while under monotherapy with

IV HBIg. No serious side effects to IV HBIg were reported during this long-term

follow-up.

Conclusion

Lifelong administration of IV HBIg is safe, and recurrence of HBV disease

occurred only in a minority of the patients during long-term follow-up.

Prognosis of HBV-related OLT with this therapy is excellent.

Department of Hepatology and Abdominal Transplantation Surgery, University

Hospitals, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Address reprint requests to Nevens Frederik, Department of Hepatology,

University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

PII: S0041-1345(10)01056-0

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.07.011

© 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

http://www.transplantation-proceedings.org/article/PIIS0041134510010560/abstract\

?rss=yes

TRANSPLANTATION PROCEEDINGS

Volume 42, Issue 10, Pages 4399-4402 (December 2010)

Outcomes of Long-Term Administration of Intravenous Hepatitis B Immunoglobulins

for the Prevention of Recurrent Hepatitis B After Liver Transplantation

K. Pauwelyn, D. Cassiman, W. Laleman, C. Verslype, D. Monbaliu, R. Aerts, W. Van

Steenbergen, J. Pirenne, F. Nevens

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of lifelong

therapy with intravenous hepatitis B immunoglobulins (IV HBIg) to prevent

recurrence of hepatitis B after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study of the long-term outcome of 56

patients who were transplanted for active hepatitis B–related liver disease. In

addition to IV HBIg, patients received antiviral therapy for at least 1 year.

Results

1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 95%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. None of

the patients died due to hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related complications. In 3

patients (5%), a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative status was not

reached. All of these patients had a very high viral load at the time of OLT.

HBsAg and HBV DNA reappeared in 6 patients (11%): In 1 patient, recurrence

occurred 9 months after OLT while still under combination treatment with

lamivudine, and 2 patients were temporarily treated abroad with intramuscular

HBIg. Only 3 patients suffered from HBV recurrence while under monotherapy with

IV HBIg. No serious side effects to IV HBIg were reported during this long-term

follow-up.

Conclusion

Lifelong administration of IV HBIg is safe, and recurrence of HBV disease

occurred only in a minority of the patients during long-term follow-up.

Prognosis of HBV-related OLT with this therapy is excellent.

Department of Hepatology and Abdominal Transplantation Surgery, University

Hospitals, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Address reprint requests to Nevens Frederik, Department of Hepatology,

University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

PII: S0041-1345(10)01056-0

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.07.011

© 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.