Background and aim: There is an increased awareness of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (DNH) in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative recipients receiving hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)-positive liver organ. Whether hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) has positive result on preventing the occurrence of DNH in HBcAb-positive liver graft recipients remains unknown. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of HBsAb on DNH in these patients.
Methods: We sought published studies through August 29, 2019, in Medline and other sources that examined DNH in liver transplantation receptors with HBcAb-positive grafts. The rate of DNH was established in random-effects model meta-analyses.
Results: In 36 studies involving 950 patients, the pooled incidence rate of DNH was 5% in patients with HBsAb positive versus 28.0% HBsAb negative. Prophylactic treatment has a significant impact on the occurrence of DNH in HBsAb-negative patients, no difference in hepatitis B immunoglobulin-combined and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)-alone immunoprophylaxis. Unprotected HBV-naïve patients had the highest risk with DNH.
Conclusion: Immunoprophylaxis may need more consideration for HBsAb-positive patients receiving HBcAb-positive liver grafts. Active vaccination and mono-prophylaxis with NAs could be recommended in HBsAb-negative recipients against DNH. Further studies should examine the higher genetic barrier drugs for preventing DNH, and the association between DNH and HBV DNA-positive liver graft in this patient population.
Keywords: Active vaccination; De novo HBV infection; Effect; Hepatitis B core antibody; Hepatitis B surface antibody; Immunoprophylaxis; Liver transplantation; Meta-analysis; Nucleos(t)ide analogues; Systematic review.