B hepatitis and liver transplantation

Abstract

Herein is reported our experience in treating with a liver transplant 14 HBsAg+ patients affected by end-stage liver disease; among these, nine patients were or had been also superinfected with HDV. An attempt has been made to evaluate the course of possible HBV reinfection and its correlation to HDV coinfection in patients who survived more than 3 months. Our results suggest that OLTX must also be performed in HBsAg carriers, even if serological signs of HBV virulence or HDV coinfection are present, to have a good outcome and quality of life. OLTX must also be performed if patients develop posttransplant B/D viral hepatitis recurrence. Future efforts must be directed toward best identifying recurrences, improving active and passive prophylaxis-mainly the long-term one-monitoring HBsAG titer, and evaluating the oppportunity of pretransplant treatment with interferon, to which HDV especially seems to be sensitive.