title: Fulminant hepatitis in children in Taiwan: the important role of hepatitis B virus.
abstract: In a recent period of 64 months, fulminant hepatitis was diagnosed in 17 children at National Taiwan University Hospital. Eleven patients were younger than 12 months of age. Hepatitis A IgM antibody and delta-antibody were negative in all 17. Eleven (65%) patients had hepatitis B core IgM antibody, fulminant hepatitis B. Two to 5 months before onset of hepatitis. Five of the 11 children had received blood transfusions. Three of the five donors had hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) and were hepatitis B virus DNA-negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers; another two were HBsAg negative, screened by a less sensitive reverse passive hemagglutination method. The mothers of all six infants younger than 6 months of age had HBsAg. HBe antigen and antibody were studied in five of these six mothers; all five had anti-HBe. We conclude that hepatitis B virus is the most important cause of fulminant hepatitis in children in Taiwan.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M