The frequency and results of hepatitis B recurrence after transplantation in patients with liver transplantation due to hepatitis B

Aim: In our study, we aimed to compare the frequency of HBV recurrence, the results, the factors affecting the recurrence, the course of the patients after the relapse, and the clinical, laboratory and radiological data of the patients who survived and did not survive in liver transplants due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Material and Method: In our study, the data in the hospital automation system of 467 patients who had liver transplantation due to HBV between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively scanned. Transplant and relapse dates of patients, time from transplant to recurrence, type of transplant, transplant indication, HBV duration before and after transplant, HBV DNA duration before transplant, antiviral treatments used before and after transplantation, compliance of patients with antiviral treatment, hepatitis accompanying HBV in patients Presence of D virus (HDV), hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HBeAg values, post-transplant hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and antiviral treatment usage status, HCC recurrence finding with post-relapse imaging methods, post-transplant 2. Month, 1st year, 3rd year, 5th year and 7th year HBV DNA, HBsAg, AntiHBs, ALT, Total Bilirubin, Albumin, Platelet, INR and alpha-fetoprotein values, pre-relapse and post-relapse ALT in the post-transplant period, Total Bilirubin, Albumin, Platelet and INR values, pre-transplant MELD scores, liver failure findings in the post-relapse period, post-relapse survival time and post-relapse current status, post-relapse death The causes of death and date of death of the patients were examined. The obtained data were evaluated in 22 package programs of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: In this study, we found that the frequency of HBV recurrence after transplantation in patients with liver transplantation due to HBV was 9.5%. We found that 12 of the patients who developed relapse did not survive and the overall survival rate was 72.9%. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates of patients with relapse were 97.7%, 82.6%, and 73.6%, respectively. When we examined the results of the patients who did and did not survive, we found that the survival rate was lower in patients with HCC before transplantation. One of the other findings in our study was that the serum albumin level was significantly higher in patients who lived in the post-relapse period compared to patients who did not. Conclusion: Our results showed that patients with HBV relapse after liver transplantation have very high survival rates. In addition, our findings suggest that the association of HCC has a negative impact on survival, especially in the presence of recurrent HCC.