title: The evolution of hepatitis B virus infection in children with symptomatic AIDS.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were determined in 80 children under 5 years of age with HIV symptomatic infection. Because of high carrier rate of hepatitis B virus in Romania we investigated as control a group of age matched 36 HIV negative children offsprings of HBsAg carrier mothers. Serological and epidemiological investigations in families of HIV infected children support horizontal nosocomial and not vertical transmission for HIV in contrast with HBV whose perinatal transmission can not be excluded. Concerning the probable route of HBV infection both groups of children seem to have a comparable risk for parenteral, contact-associated or maternal-neonatal transmission. HBsAg was detected in 76.25% HIV positive subjects and in 13.9% of control (P = 0.05). From all serum samples tested, only 12, all from the control group, did not present any markers of past or current HBV infection. Two serum markers have been used as an index of active HBV replication: HBe antigen detection and HBs antigen quantification in one or paired serum specimens. HBeAg was detectable in 20% of HIV infected children and only in 2.8% controls (P = 0.05). Almost all HBeAg positive patients have higher values for HBs antigenemia. HBsAg concentrations well above the assay cut off value (sample/cut off ratio > 15) were generally representative for HIV infected children (54% versus 5.6% in controls). The prevalence of hepatitis Delta markers and anti-HCV antibodies was not significantly higher in HIV infected children in spite of the fact that they are potentially exposed to a wider range of antigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cernescu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mătuşa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antipa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruţă
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens