Commentary on 'prophylaxis against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation for HBV-related endstage liver diseases with severe hypersplenism and splenomegaly: Role of splenectomy'

摘要

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a problem of significant concern, because approximately 350 million-people around the world are chronically infected with HBV [1]. The main complications of chronic HBV infection, which are cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, are best treated by orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). This has only become a reality thanks to the ability to deal with primary disease recurrence; HBV used to be a relative contraindication to OLT because of close to 80% recurrence and a 50% 2-y mortality rate [2]. The key in this turnaround has been the use of prophylaxis against HBV reinfection with the use of nucleoside analogues (such as lamivudine and adefovir) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG), or their combinations [3].