Abstract
Among 145 consecutive patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for leukemia or aplastic anemia, 30 (21%) were found positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum either before or after BMT. Their serologic profile and clinical outcome are described. Nine out of 30 patients were HBsAg positive before BMT: four were chronic carriers and five were found HBsAg+ at transplant. Three of the former and one of the five latter patients remained persistently HBsAg+ after transplant with signs of liver disease; none developed liver failure, indicating that HBsAg positivity is not an absolute contra-indication to BMT. Among the remaining 21 patients, HBsAg was detected early (n=12) or late (n=9) after transplant. All 21 cleared the antigen during follow-up and liver disease was either mild and asymptomatic (nine cases) or clinically overt (12 cases), but none had life-threatening liver disease. Several HBV-infected patients were constantly serologic pattern of HBV markers in BMT patients is unpredictable. HBV infection was rarely associated with severe hepatitis and HBsAg carriage.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 25-29 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Bone Marrow Transplantation |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1990 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Transplantation