Liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatitis B: experience in Canton, China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation on fulminant hepatitis B and the preventive efficiency of lamivudine on recurrence of hepatitis B in China. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with fulminant hepatitis B received orthotopic liver transplantation under veno-venous bypass. All patients had preoperatively serious jaundice, ascites and coagulopathy, and of whom 7 with encephalopathy, 2 with acute renal failure, and 1 with gastro-hemorrhage. RUSULT: Seven of the 10 patients have survived for 3 approximately 18 months, but 3 died of multi-organ failure or recurrence of fulminant hepatitis B. Seven survivors took lamivudine and 6 of them have survived for 3 approximately 18 months without the signs of recurrence of hepatitis B. CONCLUSION: Orthotopic liver transplantation is an effective therapy for fulminant hepatitis B, and lamivudine may prevent recurrence of hepatitis B after transplantation.