IMPACT OF IMMUNOPROPHYLAXIS AND PATIENT SELECTION ON OUTCOME OF TRANSPLANTATION FOR HBSAG-POSITIVE LIVER RECIPIENTS

We have studied the roles of immunoprophylaxis, patient selection policy and coexistent hepatitis D virus infection in the outcome of 56 HBsAg-positive elective liver transplant recipients. Twenty-nine unselected patients not treated with immunoprophylaxis formed group 1 and were compared to a recent consecutive series of 27 patients (group 2) in whom pre-transplant serological status was determined and who received immunoprophylaxis. One-year actuarial HBsAg serological recurrence rates were 48% in group 2 and 90% in group 1 with particular improvement in recipients who were either HBV DNA-negative or who had co-existent hepatitis delta virus infection. One-year patient survival has improved from 62% in group 1 to 86% in group 2 with improvements in hepatitis delta virus-negative and replicating recipients. Patients who have either co-existent hepatitis delta virus infection or are in group 2 have 1-year survival rates comparable to elective HBsAg-negative recipients (19/21 (90%), 22/27 (86%) vs 87%, respectively). In the event of recurrence, severe graft injury is diminished in recent patients and in those with coexistent delta infection who also have lower levels of circulating HBV DNA. Retransplantation for associated graft injury has a poor prognosis irrespective of administration of immunoprophylaxis. In elective liver recipients, immunoprophylaxis and/or hepatitis delta virus infection modulate hepatitis B virus recurrence and associated graft injury with consequent improvement in patient survival. (C) Journal of Hepatology.