Effect of Lamivudine Treatment in Renal Transplant Recipient with HBsAg-Positivity

Han, Sang Woo; Kim, Jin Young; Kim, Su Hyun; Choi, Bum Soon; Park, Cheol Whee; Yang, Chul Woo; Kim, Yong Soo; Kim, Suk Young; Chang, Yoon Sik; Bang, Byung Kee

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation stimulates the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and may lead to increased liver-related mortality. We investigated the effectiveness of lamivudine for the treatment of HBV reactivation in renal transplant recipients.
METHODS
We reviewed the clinical course of 16 HBsAg-positive renal transplant patients (M:F=13:3) treated with lamivudine for chronic hepatitis B. The outcome of prophylactic (HBV-DNA negative, n=5) and preemptive (HBV-DNA positive, n=4) therapy without hepatic dysfunction was analyzed in compared with that of salvage (n=7) therapy for post-transplantation hepatic dysfunction.
RESULTS
Chronic hepatitis developed in four (25 %) of the enrolled 16 recipients, including one fulminant hepatic failure in prophylactic group and one hepatocellular carcinoma in the salvage group. We found that three (33%) of 9 patients under prophylactic and preemptive therapy showed post-transplantation hepatic dysfunction, but that only one (14%) of 7 patients showed elevated liver enzyme after salvage therapy. During a mean follow-up, under prophylactic and preemptive therapy, of 38 months, five (56%) of 9 patients showed resistance to lamivudine. In seven patients under salvage therapy for a mean follow-up of 26 months, only one patient (14%) showed resistance. At the last follow-up, liver enzyme levels were normal in 14 patients (87.5%).
CONCLUSION
It may be beneficial to use lamivudine for the prevention of liver-related mortality in renal transplant recipients with HBs-Ag positivity. Prophylactic and preemptive lamivudine therapy tend to show higher viral resistance compared with salvage therapy.