Chronic hepatitis B in male and female children of HBsAg carrier mothers.
We have studied a group of children born to HBsAg+ mothers, resident in the English West Midlands; none of the children had sought medical attention for hepatitis B-related problems. Forty-two out of 48 children born to HBeAg+ mothers were HBsAg+. Among these children, the mean age of the HBeAg+ girls was significantly lower than that of the HBeAg+ boys (P = 0.05), suggesting that girls eradicate HBeAg at a younger age than boys. Among all children born to HBsAg+ mothers, liver function tests were normal except in 2 HBsAg+ boys who had elevated serum aminotransferase activities. Excluding these boys, serum alanine aminotransferase activity, while within the normal range, was significantly higher in HBeAg+ and anti-HBe+ children than in their immune (anti-HBs+) and non-infected siblings (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05). Waning infectivity was observed in many HBsAg+ mothers, giving rise to a typical pattern of infection within a family: older children, born to the still HBeAg+ mother, being HBeAg+ carriers, while younger siblings, born when the mother had become anti-HBe+, had no markers of infection. These younger children are vulnerable to 'horizontal' transmission.
Wheeley
S M
SM
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Birmingham, East Birmingham Hospital, U.K.
Tarlow
M J
MJ
Boxall
E H
EH
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000637:Transaminases