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Daily lamivudine plus monthly hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) injections after liver transplant for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has reduced HBV infection recurrence to <5%. However, HBIG is expensive, requires regular injections, and has limited availability. Can recently approved, potent antiviral agents such as tenofovir and entecavir prevent posttransplant HBV infection recurrence without the use of HBIG?
To assess virological relapse rates with use of oral antiviral therapies alone, researchers in Hong Kong retrospectively studied outcomes in 362 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation for HBV infection between 2003 and 2011. Patients received lamivudine (100 mg daily) if transplantation occurred before November 20…