Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2007 Sep;10(2):166-172.

Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Liver Grafts Obtained from HBsAb and HBcAb Positive Organ Donors

• Jung CW
• Jang JY
• Kim KM
• Lee SG

Abstract

PURPOSE: It has recently been reported that de novo HBV infection following liver transplantation is caused by grafts from HBcAb positive donors, and this phenomenon has been observed in one third of the liver transplant patients in our center. Therefore, we investigated the presence of HBV virus DNA in liver tissues obtained from HBcAb positive donors to determine the mechanism by which de novo HBV infection occurs.
METHODS
This study was conducted on 6 patients that were HBsAg negative, HBsAb positive, and HBcAb positive who were donors for liver transplantation between November 1997 and November 1998 at Asan Medical Center. We isolated DNA from a portion of liver biopsy tissues that were obtained during the operation, and then identified the surface and core region of HBV DNA using nested PCR. In addition, four children who received liver grafts from these donors were monitored to determine if they became afflicted with non-HBV related diseases while receiving prophylaxis consisting of short-term HBIG treatment and long-term treatment with an antiviral agent.
RESULTS
The surface antigen region was identified in all 6 donors and the core antigen region was observed in 4 of the 6 donors. However, no episodes of de novo HBV infection with prophylaxis were observed.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study support the results of previous studies, which indicated that HBV infection may be the main cause of de novo HBV infection in patients that receive HBsAb positive and HBcAb positive donor grafts.

Keyword

Liver transplantation; Hepatitis B virus; Living donors; Hepatitis B antibodies

MeSH Terms

Antigens, Surface
Biopsy
Child
Chungcheongnam-do
DNA
Hepatitis B Antibodies
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Liver Transplantation
Liver*
Living Donors
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Tissue Donors*
Transplants*
Antigens, Surface
DNA
Hepatitis B Antibodies
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens