Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2013; 19(48): 9189-9197
Published online Dec 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9189
Review of the pharmacological management of hepatitis B viral infection before and after liver transplantation
Evangelos Cholongitas, George V Papatheodoridis
Evangelos Cholongitas, the 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Aristotle University, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
George V Papatheodoridis, Department of Gastroenterology, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Cholongitas E performed the literature search, wrote the first draft of the manuscript and approved the final version; Papatheodoridis GV edited the final draft of the manuscript and approved the final version.
Correspondence to: Dr. Evangelos Cholongitas, Lecturer of Internal Medicine, the 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Aristotle University, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 49, Konstantinopoleos Street, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece. cholongitas@yahoo.gr
Telephone: +30-231-892110 Fax: +30-231-855566
Received: September 14, 2013
Revised: October 29, 2013
Accepted: November 18, 2013
Published online: December 28, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: In the present review the current knowledge on the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before and after liver transplantation is updated. There is no doubt that all HBV patients with decompensated cirrhosis should be treated with potent anti-HBV agents with high genetic barrier (i.e., entecavir or tenofovir). After liver transplantation, the combination of HBV immunoglobulin (HBIG) (at least for a certain period) and entecavir or tenofovir currently appears to be the most reasonable approach, while HBIG-free antiviral prophylaxis cannot be excluded in the future, particularly in patients with low risk of recurrence.