Screening and Prophylaxis to Prevent Hepatitis B Reactivation

Organ transplantation is a lifesaving procedure for many patients. To prevent rejection or graft-versus-host disease, recipients require long-term immunosuppression. In patients who have ever been exposed to hepatitis B, it is possible for reactivation to occur; this includes patients who are anti –hepatitis B core antibody-positive only or both anti–hepatitis B core antibody-positive and hepatitis B surface antibody-positive. The susceptibility to this varies with the nature of the transplant. Hepatitis B can be transmitted from donor to recipient. It is important to assess the hepatitis B status and formulate a strategy to prevent transmission and prevent reactivation.

Source: Clinics in Liver Disease - June 5, 2019 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Joe Sasadeusz, Andrew Grigg, Peter D. Hughes, Seng Lee Lim, Michaela Lucas, Geoff McColl, Sue Anne McLachlan, Marion G. Peters, Nicholas Shackel, Monica Slavin, Vijaya Sundararajan, Alexander Thompson, Joseph Doyle, James Rickard, Peter De Cruz, Robert G. Source Type: research