Trasplante hepático en cirrosis por virus B: profilaxis con gammaglobulina antiHBs en dosis a "demanda" / Hepatitis B virus immunoglobulin on demand to prevent infection recurrence among liver allograft recipients: Report of three cases

ABSTRACT

Infection recurrence rates among hepatitis B virus infected liver allograft recipients, may be as high as 80%. Immunoprophylaxis with anti HBVgammaglobulin may reduce these rates and improve survival. The dose of anti HBV gammaglobulin that must be used is not clearly defined. The most commonly accepted protocol uses 10,000 units during the anhepatic phase and 10,000 units daily during one week, followed by weekly doses of 10,000 units during one month and maintenance with 10,000 units monthly, without measuring anti hepatitis B surface antigen antibodies (antiHBs). Some reports recommend the use of immunoglobulin on demand, to maintain antiHBs titers between 100 and 250 U/l. The infection recurrence rates among patients treated with immunoglobulin and Lamivudine fluctuates between 0 and 10%, during follow up periods of 13 to 30 months. We report three liver allograft recipients that received immunoglobulin on demand, using a mean of41,000 units, maintaining adequate antiHBs titers.