HEPATITIS-B AND TRANSPLANTATION

Hepatitis B infection can add significantly to the morbidity and morta lity of transplantation. Patients with hepatitis B can have severe rec urrent disease following liver transplantation. Reactivation of occult disease can occur during chemotherapy or immunosuppression. Hepatitis B also can be acquired at the time of transplantation. Intensive stud y of transplant patients with hepatitis B has led to a new understandi ng of the immunobiology of hepatitis B virus.