title: Transmission of hepatitis B and hepatitis delta viruses in the households of chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers: a regression analysis of indicators of risk.
abstract: To evaluate whether clinical and laboratory features of a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier can predict risks of infection, its chronicity, and the development of liver disease among close contacts, the authors studied a cohort of 994 first degree relatives or cohabitants (household contacts) of 226 non-drug-addicted chronic HBsAg carriers (index cases), of whom 77% had liver disease and 26% were superinfected by hepatitis D virus (HDV). A logistic form of regression analysis was used to assess the role of each feature in the index case as predictor of hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and HDV-related outcomes among household contacts. Six models of risk, expressed as odds ratios, were assessed by multivariate step-down analysis, with the following results. 1) Infection with HBV in the household contact was independently predicted by the index case being son, sibling, spouse, female, or HBV-DNA positive. 2) Chronic HBsAg carriage in the adult household contact was associated with female sex of the index case and with being a sibling; among young subjects, household contacts were more likely to be chronic HBsAg carriers when the index case was the mother, a sibling, or an HBV-DNA-positive subject. 3) HBV-DNA positivity in the young contact was more likely when the index case was HBV-DNA positive and when she was the mother. 4) HBV-DNA positivity in the absence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in serum in the index case was not related to a similar pattern of infection in HBsAg-positive contacts. 5) Super-infection with HDV of an HBsAg-positive household contact was significantly predicted by female sex of the index case and by anti-HDV positivity. 6) Chronic liver disease in a contact was predicted only by HDV superinfection of the index case. We conclude that horizontal, nonparenteral transmission of HBV among siblings plays a major role in the household of HBsAg carriers from an intermediate endemicity area.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica R, Istituto di Medicina Generale e Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxì
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinè
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Almasio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cammà
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pagliaro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens