Hepatitis B vaccination after living donor liver transplantation

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Liver International 27 (7), 977–982.

Abstract

CLINICAL STUDIES

Hepatitis B vaccination after living donor liver transplantation

Yuji Soejima11 Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical

Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, Toru Ikegami11 Department of

Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University,

Fukuoka, Japan, Akinobu Taketomi11 Department of Surgery and Science,

Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan,

Tomoharu Yoshizumi11 Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of

Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, Hideaki Uchiyama11

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences,

Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, Noboru Harada11 Department of Surgery and

Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka,

Japan, Yoichi Yamashita11 Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School

of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan and Yoshihiko

Maehara11 Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical

Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan1 Department of Surgery and

Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka,

Japan

Correspondence

Yuji Soejima, Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical

Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Tel: +81 92 642 5466

Fax: +81 92 642 5482

e-mail: ysoejima@...

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination after living donor liver

transplantation (LDLT) in patients transplanted anti-HBc-positive grafts or

in patients who underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis B remains unknown.

Method: A total of 11 recipients who underwent LDLT between October 1996 and

October 2002 prospectively received hepatitis B vaccination three times

within 6 months, starting a few weeks after the cessation of hepatitis B

immunoglobulin (HBIG) prophylaxis. Serial quantification of the hepatitis B

surface antibody (HBsAb) was performed.

Results: At the last follow-up, six out of 11 patients (54.5%) had

seroconversion and were free from HBIG thereafter. Four out of those six

responders had a peak HBsAb level of more than 1000 IU/L, while the other

two patients had peak HbsAb levels below 1000 IU/L. Five patients never

responded to the treatment and were back to HBIG prophylaxis. The average

age of the six responders was 25.5 years, which was significantly younger

than that of non-responders (44.4 years, P<0.05). None had side effects or

hepatitis B infection during the study period.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the use of this treatment modality could be used

to reduce the cost of HBIG.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01521.x

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