Genotypic and phenotypic resistance: longitudinal and sequential analysis of hepatitis B virus polymerase mutations in patients with lamivudine resistance after liver transplantation

Abstract

We reached the following conclusions: 1) In our area, liver transplant recipients who develop resistance to lamivudine given for recurrent HBV infection seem to be mainly infected with genotype D. 2) Re-emergence of the wild type can occur during lamivudine therapy. 3) Genotypic resistance precedes phenotypic resistance, although phenotypic resistance does not always follow genotypic resistance. 4) Quantitative determination of viremia and analysis of polymerase gene mutants are recommended for monitoring antiviral therapy of liver transplant patients with HBV reinfection in the graft.