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Liver Transplantation Using Hepatitis B Core Antibody−Positive Grafts: Review and University of Tokyo Experience

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Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antigen−negative and hepatitis B core antibody−positive grafts were considered unsuitable for transplantation. The number of potential recipients for liver transplantation now exceeds that of potential donor organs, which has led us to reevaluate the feasibility of these grafts. Several strategies involving prophylactic administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and/or lamivudine to transplant recipients have been proposed. At the University of Tokyo, we have continued to use hepatitis B immunoglobulin monoprophylaxis with zero recurrence.In this article we report our experience with the use of hepatitis B surface antigen−negative/hepatitis B core antibody−positive grafts with hepatitis B immunoglobulin monotherapy. We conducted a review of the literature regarding the feasibility of these grafts to reconfirm optimal prophylactic strategies for preventing de novo hepatitis B virus infection in transplant recipients.

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Abbreviations

HBV::

Hepatitis B virus

LDLT::

Living donor liver transplantation

HBcAb::

Hepatitis B core antibody

HBsAb::

Hepatitis B surface antibody

HBsAg::

Hepatitis B surface antigen

HBIG::

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and Grants-in-aid for Research on HIV/AIDS, a multicenter pilot clinical study to compare the safety and efficacy of a steroid-free immunosuppression protocol with monoclonal anti-IL2R antibody in HCV-positive living donor liver transplantation and Research on Measures for Intractable Diseases from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Nobuyuki Takemura, Yasuhiko Sugawara, Sumihito Tamura & Masatoshi Makuuchi

Authors
  1. Nobuyuki Takemura
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  2. Yasuhiko Sugawara
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  3. Sumihito Tamura
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  4. Masatoshi Makuuchi
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Correspondence to Yasuhiko Sugawara.

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Takemura, N., Sugawara, Y., Tamura, S. et al. Liver Transplantation Using Hepatitis B Core Antibody−Positive Grafts: Review and University of Tokyo Experience. Dig Dis Sci 52, 2472–2477 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9656-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9656-5

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