Selection of a precore mutant of hepatitis B virus and reactivation of chronic hepatitis B acquired in childhood.
A 14-year-old girl with chronic hepatitis B had seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen to antibody and achieved biochemical remission after 2 years. The disease reactivated 9 years later when a precore mutant had become the prevalent hepatitis B virus strain in serum. These results suggest that selection of a precore mutant might induce reactivation during adult life of chronic hepatitis B acquired in childhood, thus worsening the prognosis.
Bortolotti
F
F
Clinica Medica 2, University of Padua, Italy.
Crivellaro
C
C
Brunetto
M R
MR
Cadrobbi
P
P
Bertolini
A
A
Alberti
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009154:Mutation; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens