The cccDNA in HBcAb positive donor may be one of the risk factors in HBV recurrence of hepatitis B-related liver transplantation patients

Abstract

Objective To indentify the relationship between hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA （HBV cccDNA） and postoperative recurrence of HBV in HBcAb positive liver donors by detecting HBV cccDNA in liver from HBcAb positive liver donors. Method Eighty-five of 1200 patients underwent liver transplantation for hepatitis B-related end-stage liver disease in our hospital from January 2007 to January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the situation of HBV infection in donor liver, the recipients were divided into 3 groups： （1） the experimental group （livers positive for HBcAb, and negative for HBsAg, n = 40）, （2） control group （livers positive for HBsAg, n = 15）, and （3） normal group （donor livers without HBV infection, n = 30）. HBV cccDNA of donors was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Serum HBV and HBV DNA were regularly tested, and biopsy was done in those positive for HBsAg or HBV DNA to confirm HBV recurrence. The relationship between HBV cccDNA and postoperative recurrence of HBV in HBcAb positive liver donors was analyzed. Result The positive rate of cccDNA was 30% in experimental group （12,40）, 73.3% in control group （11/50）, and 0 （normal group）. The rate of HBV recurrence in experimental, control and normal groups was 10% （4/40）, 80% （12/15） and 3.3%（1/30） respectively. The rate of HBV recurrence in the experimental group of cccDNA （ ＋ ） and cccDNA （ - ） was 7. 5% （3/40）, and 2. 5% （1/40）. Conclusion The cccDNA in HBcAb positive donors may be one of the risk factors in HBV recurrence of hepatitis B-related liver transplantation patients. The screening of HBV cccDNA in the donor livers positive for HBcAb before liver transplantation is recommended to reduce the positive HBV recurrence and expand the pool of liver donors for patients with HBV-related liver disease. Key words: Liver transplantation; Donor; Hepatitis B virus