OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of the protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage hepatitis B immuno-globulin (HBIG) to prevent HBV reinfection and of the treatment for HBV reinfection after liver transplantation.

METHODSFrom December 2000 to May 2003, 11 patients (follow-up is more than 1 year) had been transplanted due to HBV related end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma. All patients received the protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage HBIG to prevent HBV reinfection after liver transplantation. Lamivudine was administered for more than 2 weeks. Preoperatively patients with HBV-DNA(-) and HBeAg(-) accepted HBIG 2000 IU intramuscular injection. Patients with HBV-DNA(+) or HBeAg(+) before operation accepted HBIG 4000 IU intramuscular injection, and patients with both HBV-DNA(+) and HBeAg(+) before operation accepted HBIG 6000 IU intramuscular injection. All patients took long-term lamivudine postoperatively. They accepted HBIG 800 IU/d for 1 week after transplantation. Two weeks after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that the titer of HBsAb was higher than 500 IU/L, but lower than 1000 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for 6 months. 6 months after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that tite of HBsAb higher than 300 IU/L but lower than 500 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for 6 months. One year after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that tite of HBsAb was higher than 100 IU/L but lower than 300 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for a long time. Examinations of liver function, HBV-DNA and hepatitis B were regularly taken. To observe the early turning to be negative rate, the later HBV reinfection rate, and the efficacy of the treatment for HBV reinfection.

RESULTSHBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA in all patients turned to be negative in 1-4 days after operation. All patients responded to HBIG, and level of titer of HBsAb was elevated gradually. All patients was alive during the observation time. The regular examination of HBsAb showed that of HBsAb was in line with our expectation. Hepatitis B recurrence occurred in 1 patient 25 months after transplantation. Through using adefovir and adding the dosage of HBIG, the hepatitis B is in control.

CONCLUSIONSThe protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage HBIG proved to be highly effective and safe in preventing the recurrence of HBV after liver transplantation. It also reduced the cost obviously.