title: Horizontal or vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus? A serological survey in family members of hepatitis B carriers in Singapore.
abstract: Hepatitis B serology was performed on 270 family members of 78 hepatitis B carriers and hepatitis B e antigen status determined in those found to be HBsAg positive. The mean age of index patients was 38 years (range 3-74) and that of family members was 28 years (range 1-71). 67 family members (25%) were HBsAg positive. The proportions of family members positive for HBsAg and those negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc were 25% and 20% for children, 10% and 68% for spouses, 36% and 26% for siblings and 29% and 55% for parents. For children of index parents the proportions positive for HBsAg and those negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc were similar whether the index patient was the mother (24% and 24%) or the father (26% and 18%). Our results suggest that horizontal transmission is a significant mode of spread of hepatitis B within the family in Singapore.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens