[Influence of the Positivity to HBV-DNA in Serum, Liver and Peripheral Mononuclear Cells in the Risk of HBV Allograft Infection after Liver Transplantation in HBsAg-Positive Recipients]


Moraleda G, Bartolomé J, Madejón A, Martínez MG, Moreno E, Loinaz C, Gómez M, Carreño V.

The presence of Hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) in serum, liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 5 chronic HBsAg carriers was studied befor, during and after liver transplantation. All patients were HBsAg, anti-HBe positive and HBV-DNA negative in serum, liver and PBMC before transplantation.

After liver transplantation, only one patient developed HBV reinfection with positive viral DNA in serum, liver and PBMC; the HBeAg also reappeared in the follow-up. The other 4 patients had a favourable outcome without reappearance of HBV replication. Two of them cleared HBsAg and all of them remained anti-HBe positive.

In summary, the outcome of the liver transplantation in chronic HBsAg carriers without HBV-DNA in serum, liver and PBMC could be favourable, without a great risk of reinfection of the liver.