Solid organ transplantation from hepatitis B virus-positive donors: consensus guidelines for recipient management

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2015

Publication Title

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons

Abstract

Use of organs from donors testing positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) may safely expand the donor pool. The American Society of Transplantation convened a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the existing literature and developed consensus recommendations for recipient management following the use of organs from HBV positive donors. Transmission risk is highest with liver donors and significantly lower with non-liver (kidney and thoracic) donors. Antiviral prophylaxis significantly reduces the rate of transmission to liver recipients from isolated HBV core antibody positive (anti-HBc+) donors. Organs from anti-HBc+ donors should be considered for all adult transplant candidates after an individualized assessment of the risks and benefits and appropriate patient consent. Indefinite antiviral prophylaxis is recommended in liver recipients with no immunity or vaccine immunity but not in liver recipients with natural immunity. Antiviral prophylaxis may be considered for up to 1 year in susceptible non-liver recipients but is not recommended in immune non-liver recipients. Although no longer the treatment of choice in patients with chronic HBV, lamivudine remains the most cost-effective choice for prophylaxis in this setting. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin is not recommended.

Medical Subject Headings

Antiviral Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Heart Transplantation; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Core Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Lamivudine; Liver Transplantation; Societies, Medical; Tissue Donors; Tissue and Organ Procurement; United States

PubMed ID

25707744

Volume

15

Issue

5

First Page

1162

Last Page

1172

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