Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIMS: In recent years, only few reports have addressed the safety of using living donors with a positive anti- Hepatitis B Core (HBc) antibody for liver transplants. Most reports have focused on short-term complications, short-term changes in liver function and regeneration of remnant liver. Long term follow-up data, quality of life and overall laboratory tests variations have not been appropriately studied. In our study, we aim to comprehensively investigate the safety of using anti-HBc-positive subjects in living donor liver transplants (LDLT). METHODOLOGY: From March 2003 to March 2008, a total of 60 of LDLT cases were studied. All cases were right lobe transplants. Thirty donors with a positive anti-HBc were included in one group (group 1). The other 30 donors with a negative anti-HBc were included in Group 2. Preoperative parameters, intra-operative data, postoperative short- and long-term complications, laboratory tests and quality of life after surgery were compared. RESULTS: Preoperative demographic data, intra-operative data and graft size comparisons from both groups showed non-significant differences. Anti-HBc-positive donors (9 cases; 30%) showed more complications than negative donors (7 cases; 23.3%). However, the increase did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.563). The quality of life, postoperative serum Transaminase levels, prothrombin times and routine blood values showed non-significant differences. Anti-HBc positive donors showed higher levels of total bilirubin (TB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) within the first 7 postoperative days. Nonetheless, all levels showed similar values for both groups in the days immediately following surgery. All indexes returned to normal levels, thirty days after surgery. However, a persistently decreased platelet count was observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A positive serological test result for anti-HBc should not be considered as an absolute contraindication for LDLT. However, these cases require more caution than negative donors.
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Authors | Jianyong Lei, Lunan Yan, Wentao Wang |
Journal | Hepato-gastroenterology
(Hepatogastroenterology)
Vol. 60
Issue 126
Pg. 1426-32
(Sep 2013)
ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece |
PMID | 23933935
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Hepatitis B Antibodies
- Hepatitis B Core Antigens
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
- Alanine Transaminase
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Topics |
- Adult
- Alanine Transaminase
(blood)
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
(blood)
- Female
- Hepatitis B Antibodies
(blood)
- Hepatitis B Core Antigens
(immunology)
- Humans
- Liver
(physiopathology)
- Liver Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Living Donors
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Platelet Count
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