AIM: To evaluate the long-term histological outcome of patients transplanted for HBV-related liver disease and given HBIg prophylaxis indefinitely after LT. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients transplanted for hepatitis B were prospectively studied. HBsAg, HBV-DNA and liver function tests were evaluated in the serum 3, 6 and 12 mo after LT and then yearly. LB was obtained 6 and 12 mo after LT and yearly thereafter. Chronic hepatitis (CH) B after LT was classified as minimal, mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: HBV recurred in 7/42 (16.6%) patients after 6-96 mo of follow-up. A hundred and eighty-seven LB were evaluated. Four of 7 patients with graft reinfection, all with unknown HBV DNA status before LT, developed cirrhosis at 12-36 mo of follow-up. Of the 122 LB obtained from 28 HBsAg+/HCV- recipients with no HBV recurrence after LT, all biopsies were completely normal in only 2 patients (7.1%), minimal/non-specific changes were observed in 18 (64.2%), and at least 1 biopsy showed CH in the remaining 8 (28.5%). Twenty-nine LB obtained from 7 patients transplanted for HBV-HCV cirrhosis and remaining HBsAg- after LT revealed recurrent CH-C. Actuarial survival was similar in patients with HBsAg+ or HBsAg- liver diseases. CONCLUSION: Though protocol biopsies may enable the detection of graft dysfunction at an early stage, the risk of progression and the clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined.
AIM: To evaluate the long-term histological outcome of patients transplanted for HBV-related liver disease and given HBIg prophylaxis indefinitely after LT. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients transplanted for hepatitis B were prospectively studied. HBsAg, HBV-DNA and liver function tests were evaluated in the serum 3, 6 and 12 mo after LT and then yearly. LB was obtained 6 and 12 mo after LT and yearly thereafter. Chronic hepatitis (CH) B after LT was classified as minimal, mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: HBV recurred in 7/42 (16.6%) patients after 6-96 mo of follow-up. A hundred and eighty-seven LB were evaluated. Four of 7 patients with graft reinfection, all with unknown HBV DNA status before LT, developed cirrhosis at 12-36 mo of follow-up. Of the 122 LB obtained from 28 HBsAg+/HCV- recipients with no HBV recurrence after LT, all biopsies were completely normal in only 2 patients (7.1%), minimal/non-specific changes were observed in 18 (64.2%), and at least 1 biopsy showed CH in the remaining 8 (28.5%). Twenty-nine LB obtained from 7 patients transplanted for HBV-HCV cirrhosis and remaining HBsAg- after LT revealed recurrent CH-C. Actuarial survival was similar in patients with HBsAg+ or HBsAg- liver diseases. CONCLUSION: Though protocol biopsies may enable the detection of graft dysfunction at an early stage, the risk of progression and the clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined.
Authors: S Fagiuoli; V G Mirante; M Pompili; S Gianni; G Leandro; G L Rapaccini; A Gasbarrini; R Naccarato; L Pagliaro; M Rizzetto; G Gasbarrini Journal: Dig Liver Dis Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 4.088
Authors: Sjoerd de Rave; Hugo W Tilanus; Joke van der Linden; Robert A de Man; Bart van der Berg; Wim C J Hop; Jan N M Ijzermans; Pieter E Zondervan; Herold J Metselaar Journal: Transpl Int Date: 2002-01-19 Impact factor: 3.782
Authors: Thomas Steinmüller; Daniel Seehofer; Nada Rayes; Andrea R Müller; Utz Settmacher; Sven Jonas; Ruth Neuhaus; Thomas Berg; Uwe Hopf; Peter Neuhaus Journal: Hepatology Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: Steven-Huy Han; Paul Martin; Marc Edelstein; Rena Hu; Gregg Kunder; Curtis Holt; Sammy Saab; Francisco Durazo; Leonard Goldstein; Douglas Farmer; Rafik M Ghobrial; Ronald W Busuttil Journal: Liver Transpl Date: 2003-02 Impact factor: 5.799
Authors: Sven Jonas; Thomas Steinmüller; Stefan G Tullius; Armin Thelen; Utz Settmacher; Thomas Berg; Cornelia Radtke; Peter Neuhaus Journal: Transpl Int Date: 2002-12-10 Impact factor: 3.782