Efficacy and safety of prophylaxis with entecavir and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after living‐donor liver transplantation

AIM: Hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation can be reduced to less than 10% by combination therapy with lamivudine (LAM) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylaxis with entecavir (ETV), which has higher efficacy and lower resistance rates than LAM, combined with HBIG in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Twenty-six patients who received ETV plus HBIG (ETV group) after LDLT for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related end-stage liver disease were analyzed by comparing with 63 control patients who had received LAM plus HBIG (LAM group). RESULTS: The survival rates of the patients treated with ETV plus HBIG was 73% after both 1 and 3 years, and there was no statistical difference between the patients in the ETV group and LAM group. No HBV recurrence was detected during the median follow-up period of 25.1 months in the ETV group, whereas the HBV recurrence rate was 4% at 3 years and 6% at 5 years in the LAM group. No patients had adverse effects related to ETV administration. CONCLUSION: ETV combined with HBIG provides effective and safe prophylaxis in preventing hepatitis B recurrence after LDLT.