title: Prognosis of children who are carriers of hepatitis B.
abstract: Fifteen children who had become positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by perinatal transmission were traced and re-examined after a mean of 8.1 years; all had been born in England to mothers from ethnic minorities who were carriers of HBsAg. Fourteen of the children remained carriers of HBsAg; of these, more girls than boys developed antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe). Those children whose transaminase activities had been above normal within the first three years of life were more likely to have developed anti-HBe. The earlier production of anti-HBe suggests that girls have a more effective immune response. Increased transaminase activity early in the course of asymptomatic carriage of HBsAg may be a favourable prognostic sign.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase