| Theme |
Debatable Issues in Living-Donor Liver Transplantation |
| Title |
Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Cirrhosis |
| Author |
Yuji Soejima |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Akinobu Taketomi |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Tomoharu Yoshizumi |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Hideaki Uchiyama |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Noboru Harada |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Yusuke Yonemura |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Hideki Ijichi |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Mitsuo Shimada |
Department of Digestive and Pediatric Surgery, The University of Tokushima |
| Author |
Yoshihiko Maehara |
Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University |
| [ Summary ] |
Liver transplantation for patients with liver disease related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has become remarkably successful over the past decade. This success has been predicated upon effective therapy to prevent clinical infection of the transplanted liver by HBV. The cornerstone of the therapy to prevent HBV infection has been the use of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). However, the significant shortcomings of HBIG therapy have been high cost and resistance to treatment. With the availability of effective antiviral therapy, including lamivudine, adefovir and others, the paradigm of HBV prophylaxis has changed. Active immunization using HBV vaccine has been occasionally attempted after liver transplantation to compensate for the high cost of HBIG. However, the results have been far from satisfactory. In this article, we reviewed the present status of liver transplantation for hepatitis B and discussed future perspectives. |