【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the prophylactic effect of lamivudine monotherapy on the recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation. MethodsThirtyone patients with hepatitis B related benign decompensated cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation between February 1999 to June 2002 and survived more than 3 months were analyzed retrospectively. Lamivudine was administered to each patient after operation and some patients before operation for the prophylaxis of HBV recurrence. The HBV markers and HBV DNA in serum and bioptic liver tissues in all patients were evaluated before and after operation. ResultsTotal HBV recurrence rate was 19.4％（6/31） during average 38.2 months (3.2-70.2 months) follow up. HBV recurrence rate was 7.1％(2/28), 16.0％(4/25), 26.1％(6/23) and survival rate was 87.1％(27/31), 80.6％(25/31), 66.1％(20.5/31) after 1-, 3-and 5-year, respectively. One hundred milligram lamivudine administration peroral daily for 2 weeks prior to transplantation enable HBeAg 54.5％(6/11) and HBV DNA 50.0％(5/10) positive patients convert to negative respectively. ConclusionPreoperative administration of lamivudine monotherapy can effectively prevent allograft from HBV re-infection after liver transplantation. Lamivudine should be used to convert HBV DNA and HBeAg to negative.