Hepatitis B core antibody-positive grafts: recipient's risk

The transmission of hepatitis B virus infection through hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive liver grafts in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative recipients has been established. The mandatory use of immunosuppression in transplant patients favors reactivation of latent virus that may be present in grafts from HBsAg-negative anti-HBc-positive donors. With the persistent organ donor scarcity, the use of these grafts cannot be avoided, especially in urgent cases and in areas where the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus is high, as in Asia. The recognition of posttransplant de novo hepatitis B from core antibody-positive liver donors has, therefore, led to modifications in graft allocation policies and the introduction of strategies for prophylaxis. The risk of developing this type of new-onset hepatitis B virus infection in liver transplant recipients and the various approaches to minimize this risk are reviewed. The peculiar implications of using core antibody-positive grafts in the context of living donor liver transplantation in Asia are discussed.