HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Morris, A. Articles by Barratt-Boyes, B. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Morris, A. Articles by Barratt-Boyes, B. G.

Ann Thorac Surg 1990;49:802-805
© 1990 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Use of aortic valve allografts from hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors

Microbiology Department and Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

Accepted for publication January 12, 1990.

^_* Address reprint requests to M. G. Strickett, Microbiology Laboratory, Green Lane Hospital, Greenlane, Auckland 3, New Zealand.

Over a 28-month period, 31 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement received valve allografts from hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, hepatitis B e antigen-negative donors. At the time of operation, 22 recipients were immune to hepatitis B infection; 19 had antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, and 3 were hepatitis B surface antigen positive. Nine patients were regarded as being susceptible to hepatitis B; 7 lacked hepatitis B markers, and records of serological status could not be found for the other 2. Four of the susceptible patients received hepatitis B immunoglobulin postoperatively, and 1 of them also received one 10-µg dose of hepatitis B vaccine. The 9 susceptible patients underwent hepatitis B serological studies a mean of 17 months (range, 4 to 31 months) postoperatively. In only 1 patient, tested 29 months after operation, had antibodies to hepatitis B surface, hepatitis B core, and hepatitis B e antigens developed. He had not experienced a clinical episode of hepatitis, and results of liver function tests were normal. He had not received prophylaxis. Because hepatitis B virus may be transmitted by hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, hepatitis B e antigen-negative valves, prophylaxis should be given whenever they are used and follow-up serological studies undertaken.