Liver transplantation for a hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patient

A patient with chronic end-stage liver cirrhosis resulting from a hepatitis B viral infection had a successful liver transplantation performed on 1 July 1991. Preoperative serology revealed that both HBsAg and HBeAg were positive, and the anti-HBs antibody was negative. Immunoprophylaxis included active immunization, as well as injections of large doses of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) given perioperatively to reverse the antigen status. The patient has been anti-HBs antibody positive for more than 10 months since the transplantation. The immunoprophylaxis protocol used has been effective in the prevention of hepatitis B viral reinfection.