Efficacy and Safety of Niuliva® for the Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Recurrence in Newly Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients

Efficacy and Safety of Niuliva® for the Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Recurrence in Newly Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients.

The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Niuliva (Hepatitis B virus immune globulin) in the prophylaxis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection in patients submitted to liver transplantation due to HBV-induced liver disease by reaching and maintaining certain hepatitis B antibody (HBsAg) levels considered as protective during the first six and twelve months post-transplantation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female.
• Patients from 18 to 70 years of age (both included).
• Serum HBV DNA-negative determined by DNA PCR-amplification assay just prior to anhepatic phase visit.
• Serum HBeAg negative just prior to anhepatic phase visit.
• Patients who are to undergo liver transplantation due to liver disease associated to HBV.
• The patient agrees to participate and comply with all the aspects of the protocol, including blood sampling, for the total duration of the study.
• Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have already experienced a liver transplantation even for reasons not related to HBV infection.
• Patients with unknown serum HBV replication status (data on HBeAg and HBV DNA).
• Patients with known allergies to any component of Niuliva®.
• History of serious adverse events (SAEs) or frequent adverse events (AEs) related to the administration of human blood-derived products.
• Patient with unknown viral status for HCV, HAV, HIV type 1 and type 2
• Patients with selective IgA deficiency.
• Any haemostatic abnormality contraindicating i.v. injection according to the investigator's judgment.
• Patient suffers from any acute or chronic medical, surgical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with the study participation or investigational product administration, or may interfere with the interpretation of the study results.
• Known abuse of alcohol, drugs or other chemical substances; or has done so in the past 6 months.
• Breast-feeding women or pregnant women at the time of inclusion or who are expecting to be pregnant within the next 7 months after inclusion.
• Subject has participated in any other investigational study within the last 3 months.
• Existing possibility that the patient may be treated with other products containing specific anti-hepatitis B immunoglobins (other than Niuliva®) in a period of 13 months.
• Subject is incapable of giving consent personally.