Tenofovir Alafenamide for HBV Prophylaxis in HBV(-) Liver Transplant Recipients With HBcAb+ Donors

Liver transplantation is currently the only effective way to treat end-stage liver disease.The shortage of donor liver is still the major problem. Incidence of HBcAb+ varies between different regions. The HBcAb positive rate could be as high as 52% in China.HBcAb positive donor liver may enlarge donor pool and thus save ESLD patients. However, the use of HBcAb positive donor liver may induce HBV infection in hepatitis B negative recipient after liver transplantation. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) has better stability in plasma and higher liver targeting property in comparison with tenofovir (TDF), with an extra amide bond, which allows strong antiviral effect with much less doses and reducing the renal and bone injury. Our study intends to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HBV prophylaxis treatment of TAF in HBV negative patients after receiving HBcAb positive donor livers.

We intent to enroll 30 patients who are HBV negative but received HBcAb+ liver. Antiviral treatment with TAF(25mg/d,oral) will be started on the first day after liver transplantation. Post-operative HBV infection is defined with positive HBV marker (HBsAg) and/or positive HBV DNA after liver transplantation. Primary outcome will be evaluated at 48 weeks. All the patients will be followed up for another at least 1 year to evaluate the long term efficacy and safety of TAF. The primary endpoint is to calculate de novo HBV infection after liver transplantation when treating with TAF. Secondary endpoint is to evaluate the renal safety of TAF after liver transplantation.