Prevention and Management of HBV Infection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Renal Transplantation

AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThis review addresses clinical challenges of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with chronic kidney disease and renal transplant recipients.Recent FindingsProphylactic antiviral therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues is key to prevent HBV reactivation in renal transplant recipients. In addition, attaining adequate immunity following vaccination against HBV may permit transplantation of renal grafts from donors with evidence of prior HBV infection. The role of nucleos(t)ide analogues for treatment of recurrent or de novo HBV infection in renal transplant recipients is well established and preliminary experience demonstrate significant reductions in the median time in the renal transplant waiting list by transplanting HBsAg-positive renal grafts into HBsAg-positive recipients, without sacrificing graft or patient survival with the use of these agents.SummaryAvailability of potent nucleos(t)ide analogues results in improved outcomes following renal transplantation in patients with chronic HBV infection by avoiding recurrent or de novo infection.
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research