Virologic and clinical outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-HBV coinfected transplant recipients

Am J Transplant. 2010 May;10(5):1268-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03070.x. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

Abstract

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease, but is controversial in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Using a prospective cohort of HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfected patients transplanted between 2001-2007; outcomes including survival and HBV clinical recurrence were determined. Twenty-two coinfected patients underwent LT; 45% had detectable HBV DNA pre-LT and 72% were receiving anti-HBV drugs with efficacy against lamivudine-resistant HBV. Post-LT, all patients received hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) plus nucleos(t)ide analogues and remained HBsAg negative without clinical evidence of HBV recurrence, with a median follow-up 3.5 years. Low-level HBV viremia (median 108 IU/mL, range 9-789) was intermittently detected in 7/13 but not associated with HBsAg detection or ALT elevation. Compared with 20 HBV monoinfected patients on similar HBV prophylaxis and median follow-up of 4.0 years, patient and graft survival were similar: 100% versus 85% in HBV mono- versus coinfected patients (p = 0.08, log rank test). LT is effective for HIV-HBV coinfected patients with complications of cirrhosis, including those who are HBV DNA positive at the time of LT. Combination HBIG and antivirals is effective as prophylaxis with no clinical evidence of HBV recurrence but low-level HBV DNA is detectable in approximately 50% of recipients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / immunology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Graft Survival / immunology
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV / immunology
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Hepatitis / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis / immunology
  • Hepatitis / virology
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology
  • Infections / drug therapy
  • Infections / immunology
  • Infections / virology
  • Lamivudine / immunology
  • Lamivudine / pharmacology
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery
  • Liver Failure / drug therapy
  • Liver Failure / immunology
  • Liver Failure / virology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virus Diseases / drug therapy
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Virus Diseases / virology
  • Viruses / genetics
  • Viruses / immunology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Lamivudine
  • hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin