Prevention and Treatment of Recurrent Hepatitis B after Liver Transplantation

Chronic hepatitis B is a global health problem that leads to development of various complications, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure requiring liver transplantation. The recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) post-liver transplantation is a major cause of allograft dysfunction, cirrhosis of the allograft, and graft failure. Patients with high viral load at the time of transplantation, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positivity, or those with a history of anti-viral drug resistance are considered as high-risk for recurrent HBV post-liver transplantation, while patients with low viral load, including HBeAg negative status, acute liver failure, and hepatitis D virus (HDV) co-infection are considered to be at low-risk for recurrent HBV post-liver transplantation. Antivirals for patients awaiting liver transplantation(LT) cause suppression of HBV replication and reduce the risk of recurrent HBV infection of the allograft and, therefore, all HBV patients with decompensated cirrhosis should be treated with potent antivirals with high genetic barrier to resistance (entecavir or tenofovir) prior to liver transplantation. Prevention of post-liver transplantation recurrence should be done using a combination of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and antivirals in patients at high risk of recurrence. Low dose HBIG, HBIG-free protocols, and monoprophylaxis with high potency antivirals can still be considered in patients at low risk of recurrence. Even, marginal grafts from anti-HBc positive donors can be safely used in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, preferably in anti-hepatitis B core (HBc)/anti-hepatitis B surface (HBs) positive recipients. In this article, we aim to review the mechanisms and risk factors of HBV recurrence post-LT in addition to the various treatment strategies proposed for the prevention of recurrent HBV infection     

Prophylactic managements of hepatitis B viral infection in liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) is a considerably effective treatment for patients with end-stage hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease. However, HBV infection often recurs after LT without prophylaxis. Since the 1990s, the treatment for preventing HBV reinfection after LT has greatly progressed with the introduction of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), resulting in improved patient survival. The combination therapy consisting of high-dose HBIG and lamivudine is highly efficacious for preventing the recurrence of HBV infection after LT and became the standard prophylaxis for HBV recurrence. However, mainly due to the high cost of HBIG treatment, an alternative protocol for reducing the dose and duration of HBIG has been evaluated. Currently, combination therapy using low-dose HBIG and NAs is considered as the most efficacious and cost-effective prophylaxis for post-LT HBV reinfection. Recently, NA monotherapy and withdrawal of HBIG from combination therapy, along with the development of new, potent high genetic barrier NAs, have provided promising efficacy, especially for low-risk recipients. This review summarizes the prophylactic protocol and their efficacy including prophylaxis of de novo HBV infection from anti-HBc antibody-positive donors. In addition, challenging approaches such as discontinuation of all prophylaxis and active immunity through hepatitis B vaccination are discussed.     

Review of the pharmacological management of hepatitis B viral infection before and after liver transplantation

The progress in treatment against hepatitis B virus(HBV)with the development of effective and well tolerated nucleotide analogues(NAs)has improved the outcome of patients with HBV decompensated cirrhosis and has prevented post-transplant HBV recurrence.This review summarizes updated issues related to the management of patients with HBV infection before and after liver transplantation(LT).A literature search using the PubMed/Medline databases and consensus documents was performed.Pre-transplant therapy has been initially based on lamivudine,but entecavir and tenofovir represent the currently recommended first-line NAs for the treatment of patients with HBV decompensated cirrhosis.After LT,the combination of HBV immunoglobulin(HBIG)and NA is considered as the standard of care for prophylaxis against HBV recurrence.The combination of HBIG and lamivudine is related to higher rates of HBV recurrence,compared to the HBIG and entecavir or tenofovir combination.In HBIG-free prophylactic regimens,entecavir and tenofovir should be the first-line options.The choice of treatment for HBV recurrence depends on prior prophylactic therapy,but entecavir and tenofovir seem to be the most attractive options.Finally,liver grafts from hepatitis B core antibody(anti-HBc)positive donors can be safely used in hepatitis B surface antigen negative,preferentially anti-HBc/anti-hepatitis B surface antibody positive recipients.     

Μanagement of patients with hepatitis B and C before and after liver and kidney transplantation

New nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs) with high genetic barrier to hepatitis B virus(HBV) resistance(such as entecavir, tenofovir) have improved the prognosis of patients with HBV decompensated cirrhosis and have prevented HBV recurrence after liver transplantation(LT). NAs are considered the most proper approach for HBV infection in patients under renal replacement therapy but their doses should be adjusted according to the patient's creatinine clearance. In addition, physi-cians should be aware of the potential nephrotoxicity. However, patients with chronic hepatitis C and decom-pensated cirrhosis can receive only one therapeutic option before LT, as well as for Hepatitis C virus(HCV) recurrence after LT, which is the combination of sub-cutaneous Peg-IFN and ribavirin. Generally, therapy for HCV after renal transplantation should be avoided. Although the optimal antiviral therapy for HCV infec-tion has not been established, attention has turned to a new, oral direct acting antiviral treatment which marks a promising strategy in prognosis and in amelioration of these diseases.     

Recent advances in prevention of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation

Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related end-stage liver disease.However,without antiviral prophylaxis,the recurrence rate of hepatitis B is as high as 80%-100%,which leads to a 50% mortality rate in the first 2 years after liver transplantation.Combination therapy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin(HBIG) and lamivudine demonstrated a higher efficacy of prophylaxis and further reduced the rate of recurrence to < 10%.The strategy of HBIG combined with lamivudine has been the standard treatment in many centers.However,the high rate of lamivudine resistance and the many disadvantages of HBIG have compelled surgeons to reconsider the longterm efficacy of this strategy for the prevention of HBV reinfection.Recently,new nucleos(t)ide analogues,such as entecavir and tenofovir,have been approved as first-line monotherapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.These antiviral medicines have replaced lamivudine as the first choice in the prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation.Various therapies that are composed of entecavir,tenofovir,and lamivudine plus adefovir,with or without HBIG have been adopted in several liver transplant centers.This article reviews the recent advances in prophylaxis for the recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation.     

Management of patients with hepatitis B in special populations

The development of effective nucleos(t)ide analogs(NAs)against hepatitis B virus(HBV)has improved the outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).This review updates issues related to the management of CHB patients included in special populations.Entecavir(ETV)and tenofovir(TDF)represent the currently recommended first-line NAs in patients with HBV decompensated cirrhosis.The combination of HBV immunoglobulin(usually for a finite duration)and NA is considered the standard of care for prophylaxis against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation.TDF is the best choice for hemodialysis patients and in patients with chronic kidney disease with nucleoside resistance.ETV and telbivudine are the preferred options in na?ve renal transplant recipients and with low viremia levels,respectively.All hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag)-positive candidates should be treated with NAs before renal transplantation to achieve undetectable HBV DNA at the time of transplantation.Conventional interferon or NAs can also be used in children,on the basis of well-established therapeutic indication.Pregnant women at high risk of perinatal transmission could be treated with lamivudine,telbivudine or TDF in the last trimester of pregnancy.HBs Ag-positive patients under immunosuppression should receive NA preemptively(regardless of HBV DNA levels)up to 12 mo after its cessation.In HBs Ag negative,anti-HBc positive patients under immunosuppression,further studies are needed to form a final conclusion;however,it seems that anti-HBV prophylaxis is justified in such patients with hematological diseases and/or for those receiving rituximab-containing regimens,regardless of their antiHBs or serum HBV DNA status.     

Current prophylactic strategies against hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation

Prophylactic strategies against hepatitis B virus （HBV） recurrence after liver transplantation （LT） are essential for patients with HBV-related disease. Before LT, lamivudine （LAM） was proposed to be down-graded from first- to second-line therapy. In contrast, adefovir dipivoxil （ADV） has been approved not only as first-line therapy but also as rescue therapy for patients with LAM resistance. Furthermore, combination of ADV and LAM may result in lower risk of ADV resistance than ADV monotherapy. Other new drugs such as entecavir, telbivudine and tenofovir, are probably candidates for the treatment of hepatitis-B-surface-antigen-positive patients awaiting LT. After LT, low-dose intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin （HBIG）, in combination with LAM, has been regarded as the most cost-effective regimen for the prevention of post-transplant HBV recurrence in recipients without pretransplant LAM resistance and rapidly accepted in many transplant centers. With the introduction of new antiviral drugs, new hepatitis B vaccine and its new adjuvants, post-transplant HBIG-free therapeutic regimens with new oral antiviral drug combinations or active HBV vaccination combined with adjuvants will be promising, particularly in those patients with low risk of HBV recurrence.     

Hepatitis B immune globulin in liver transplantation prophylaxis: an update

Context

Liver transplantation is the best treatment option for end-stage liver disease following hepatitis B (HBV) infection. However, the high rate of recurrence of HBV infection following transplantation is a disadvantage of this option.

Evidence Acquisition

Over the past 2 decades, the gold standard of prophylactic treatment for the prevention of HBV re-infection following liver transplantation has been the administration of low- to high-dose hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) along with an antiviral agent to induce passive immunity.

Results

The effectiveness of HBIg in preventing the recurrence of HBV depends on the dosage, route of administration, and duration of HBIg treatment, and the viremic status at the time of transplantation. There is currently no consensus on a standardized recommendation for therapeutic options that include HBIg administration.

Conclusion

This review attempts to summarize the available data on the feasibility of such options. Most recent studies support the use of long-term combination therapy of HBIg and antiviral NAs (especially new agents).     

Management of hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation

Chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection is responsible for up to 30% of cases of liver cirrhosis and up to 53% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver transplantation(LT) is the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver failure caused by HBV. The success of transplantation, though, depends on receiving prophylactic treatment against post-transplant viral reactivation. In the absence of prophylaxis, liver transplantation due to chronic hepatitis B(CHB) is associated with high rates of viral recurrence and poor survival. The introduction of treatment with hepatitis B immunoglobulins(HBIG) during the 1990 s and later the incorporation of oral antiviral drugs have improved the prognosis of these patients. Thus, LT for CHB is now a universally accepted option, with an estimated 5 years survival of around 85% vs the 45% survival seen prior to the introduction of HBIG. The combination of lamivudine plus HBIG has for many years been the most widely used prophylactic regimen. However, with the appearance of new more potent oral antiviral agents associated with less resistance(e.g., entecavir and tenofovir) for the treatment of CHB, new prophylactic strategies are being designed, either in combination with HBIG or alone as a monotherapy. These advances have allowed for more personalized prophylaxis based on the individual risk profile of a given patient. In addition, the small pool of donors has required the use of anti-HBc-positive donors(with the resulting possibility of transmitting HBV from these organs), which has been made possible by suitable prophylactic regimens.     

乙型肝炎相关性肝移植后乙型肝炎复发的临床特点分析

目的 总结和探讨乙型肝炎相关性终末期肝病患者在肝移植术后乙型肝炎复发的临床特点.方法 回顾性分析2005年4月至2010年4月期间的253例乙型肝炎相关性肝移植患者的术后随访资料.结果 253例肝移植患者中乙型肝炎复发16例,复发率6.32%(16/253),中位复发时间为术后13个月,术后1、3、5年的累积复发率分别...     

Randomized trial of lamivudine versus hepatitis B immunoglobulin for long-term prophylaxis of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The long-term prophylaxis of hepatitis B after liver transplantation requires further optimization. In a randomized trial we investigated a regimen where the initially given hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) is replaced by long-term lamivudine treatment. METHODS: Twenty-four liver transplant recipients (all HBsAg-positive/HBV DNA-negative before transplantation), who had received HBIg for at least 6 months without HBV recurrence, were randomized to receive lamivudine (n = 12) or HBIg (n = 12) for 52 weeks. The efficacy criteria involved seronegativity for HBsAg and undetectable HBsAg/ HBcAg in the liver. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 24 patients completed the study without hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence (11 on HBIg, ten on lamivudine), while three patients became HBsAg-positive. Amongst those without HBV recurrence HBV DNA was detectable only by polymerase chain reaction, intermittently in serum and lymphocytes, and in liver specimens from six of eight patients receiving HBIg and five of seven receiving lamivudine. YMDD variant was found in four cases with no viral antigen expression. Eight patients continued lamivudine after the study and during an additional 6-22 months remained HBsAg-negative with normal graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Substitution of HBIg with lamivudine is effective for prevention of HBV recurrence in low-risk liver transplant recipients and offers a convenient and cost-effective alternative for long-term HBV prophylaxis.     

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??Abstract??HBV-related end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the major indications for liver transplantation in China.With the introduction of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)??new antiviral therapy has significantly improved the prognosis of liver transplantation.Pre-transplant antiviral therapy will significantly reduce the recurrence rates of HBV infection.All HBsAg-positive patients awaiting liver transplantation for HBV-related end-stage liver disease or HCC should be administered with a potent NA with high barrier to drug resistance to achieve the viral load as low as possible.Additional HBIG administration during the anhepatic phase will achieve a better control of HBV infection.HBIG should be used in combination with NAs post-transplantation to prevent HBV recurrence.As the fact that liver transplant recipients usually need life-long medication to prevent HBV recurrence??it is currently recommended that HBIG can be discontinued in patients under long-term administration of potent NAs with high barrier to drug resistance in combination with HBIG.     

Prophylaxis against Recurrence in Liver Transplantation Patients with Hepatitis B Virus: What is New?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes an endemic infection that affects nearly 2 billion patients worldwide. It is one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver transplantation (LT). Recurrence of HBV infection after LT is due to specific HBV-host genome interactions. Although hepatitis B immunoglobulin treatment constituted the backbone of HBV recurrence, use of the nucleoside and nucleotide analogs (especially the ones with a higher genetic barrier to resistance), either alone or in combination, offer us new and powerful options in overcoming this serious issue.     

肝移植后乙型肝炎复发的危险因素及预后分析

目的探讨乙型肝炎相关性肝移植患者术后在核苷(酸)类似物联合小剂量乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白的预防下乙型肝炎复发的危险因素及预后。方法 253例乙型肝炎相关性肝移植患者术前即开始给予核苷(酸)类似物预防,术中和术后均给予核苷(酸)类似物联合乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白处理。结果在253例肝移植患者中,死亡29例(11.5%);术前基础病为HBV相关性肝癌患者的病死率为21.2%,显著高于非肝癌患者的5.2%(P=0.000);乙型肝炎复发16例(6.3%);复发后均停用乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白,并调整核苷(酸)类似物,结果患者HBV DNA均<500IU/ml,肝功能稳定;Log-rank检验显示乙型肝炎复发后及时治疗对患者生存无明显影响;经Logistic多因素回归分析表明,术前HBeAg阳性、HBV DNA≥105IU/ml、HCC和HBV/YMDD变异是乙型肝炎复发的危险因素。结论肝移植能够有效治疗乙型肝炎相关性终末期肝病,在核苷(酸)类似物联合乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白预防后,仍有乙型肝炎复发,其对生存率的影响有待于观察。     

Hepatitis B virus and liver transplantation: concepts in antiviral prophylaxis

Summary. Liver transplantation remains problematic in patients with end-stage liver disease secondary to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recurrent hepatitis is almost universal in those patients who are HBV DNA-positive prior to transplantation. Prophylactic hepatitis B immune globulin can be given to reduce the rate of hepatitis B recurrence in patients who are HBV DNA-negative prior to transplantation. More recently novel antiviral drugs such as lamivudine or famciclovir have been used specifically to inhibit hepatitis B viral replication. However, the development of drug-resistant viral mutants have been observed. Further studies are needed to investigate these drugs more extensively, particularly to assess whether combination therapy may be a more effective means of controlling viral recurrence in patients transplanted for chronic HBV infection.     

The role of entecavir in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: Although hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation has been reduced to 0%–10% since the application of the combination therapy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and lamivudine, the viral mutation resistance of lamivudine is still an obstacle to the outcome of liver transplantation. Here we evaluate the role of entecavir in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation.

METHODS:

Patients who received a liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related end‐stage liver disease in our center from March 2006 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study. All patients received entecavir (0.5 mg orally, daily) or lamivudine (100 mg orally, daily) together with a long‐term low dosage of HBIG to prevent hepatitis B recurrence after transplantation. Serum viral markers (HBsAg, anti‐HBs, HBeAg, anti‐HBc and anti‐HBe) and HBV‐DNA level were determined. RESULTS: Thirty patients receiving entecavir and 90 patients receiving lamivudine were matched with the same age and sex in both groups. No reinfection of hepatitis B was detected in the entecavir group. The hepatitis B surface antigen of patients in the entecavir group became negative within one week and no patient had any adverse effect relating to entecavir. There was no difference in the cumulative survival rate between the entecavir group and the lamivudine group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that entecavir combined with low dosages of HBIG is effective and safe in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation, but its long‐term effect is still under investigation and a large‐sample study will be carried out in the future.     

REVIEW: Hepatitis B and liver transplantation

Liver transplantation in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients is very commonly followed by recurrence of infection in the transplanted liver. Most recipients with HBV recurrence will develop chronic hepatitis that follows a more aggressive course than is seen in non-immuno-compromized subjects and this frequently results in graft failure. The presence of hepatitis B e antigen or significant levels of HBV-DNA in the serum is highly predictive of recurrence and this has led to the view that patients, whose serum is positive for these conventional markers of replication, should be excluded from transplantation. The key to improving the results of transplantation in patients with HBV infection lies in the development of effective strategies to prevent reinfection. High dose anti-HBs immunoglobulin is effective in patients who are coinfected with hepatitis D, those transplanted for fulminant hepatitis and cirrhotic patients who have very low levels of viral replication prior to transplantation. Unfortunately, immunoprophylaxis does not seem to influence the outcome in those patients with higher levels of replication. There are several new orally active nucleoside analogues that are potent inhibitors of hepatitis B replication that may be effective for both the prevention and treatment of recurrent disease. The most promising are lamivudine (2',3', dideoxy, 3', thiacytidine) and famciclovir (a guanosine analogue). Both agents have been extensively evaluated in animal models of HBV and have been shown to rapidly suppress viral replication. The initial experience with these agents in liver transplant recipients has been promising and a number of studies are currently underway to determine whether these drugs, used alone or in combination with immunoprophylaxis, are able to prevent recurrence in those patients at highest risk of post-transplant HBV recurrence.     

核苷和核苷酸类药物治疗慢性乙型肝炎的长期性

核苷和核苷酸类药物(NAs)已成功用于慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)治疗。目前一致认为,乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)复制是肝损伤和疾病进展的关键因素,因此CHB治疗的主要目的是最大限度地持续抑制HBV复制。现已证明,应用NAs长期治疗CHB可明显改善肝脏组织学、逆转肝纤维化或肝硬化,以及减少肝细胞癌的发生。本文对CHB长期治疗的必要性、临床获益及管理进行了综述。     

Management of chronic hepatitis B before and after liver transplantation

Liver transplantation remains the only curative option for eligible patients with complications of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, including severe acute hepatitis flares, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In general, all patients with CHB awaiting liver transplantation should be treated with oral nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) with high barriers to resistance to prevent potential flares of hepatitis and reduce disease progression. After liver transplantation, lifelong antiviral therapy is also required to prevent graft hepatitis, which may lead to subsequent graft loss. Although combination therapy using NA and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) has been the regimen most widely adopted for over a decade, recent studies have demonstrated that newer NAs with low rates of resistance are effective in preventing graft hepatitis even without the use of HBIG, achieving excellent long term outcome. For patients without pre-existing resistant mutations, monotherapy with a single NA has been shown to be effective. For those with resistant strains, a combination of nucleoside analog and nucleotide analog should be used. To date, clinical trials using therapeutic vaccination have shown suboptimal response, as CHB patients likely have an immune deficit against HBV epitopes. Future strategies include targeting different sites of the hepatitis B replication cycle and restoring the host immunity response to facilitate complete viral eradication.     

Diagnostic and therapeutic progress of multi-drug resistance with anti-HBV nucleos(t)ide analogues

Nucleos(t)ide analogues(NA) are a breakthrough in the treatment and management of chronic hepatitis B.NA could suppress the replication of hepatitis B virus(HBV) and control the progression of the disease.However,drug resistance caused by their long-term use becomes a practical problem,which influences the long-term outcomes in patients.Liver transplantation is the only choice for patients with HBV-related end-stage liver disease.But,the recurrence of HBV after transplantation often caused by the development of drug resistance leads to unfavorable outcomes for the recipients.Recently,the multi-drug resistance(MDR) has become a common issue raised due to the development and clinical application of a variety of NA.This may complicate the antiviral therapy and bring poorly prognostic outcomes.Although clinical evidence has suggested that combination therapy with different NA could effectively reduce the viral load in patients with MDR,the advent of new antiviral agents with high potency and high genetic barrier to resistance brings hope to antiviral therapy.The future of HBV researches relies on how toprevent the MDR occurrence and develop reasonable and effective treatment strategies.This review focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic progress in MDR caused by the anti-HBV NA and describes some new research progress in this field.