Prevalence of hepatitis B virus precore stop codon mutations in chronically infected children.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether there is a significant difference in the prevalence of the precore stop codon mutation between HBeAg positive and anti-HBe positive children.


METHODS
We investigated a large pediatric population of 155 European children (mean age 10.9 years) with chronic hepatitis B by PCR and direct sequencing. Ninety were HBeAg positive and 65 had seroconversion to anti-HBe. Additionally genotyping was performed.


RESULTS
Seventy-four (48%) of the sequenced HBV strains were attributed to genotype D and 81 (52%) to genotype A. In the group of 90 HBeAg positive patients, 2 (2.2%) 1896-G-to-A transitions leading to precore stop codon mutation were found, and in the group of 65 anti-HBe positive children, 5 (7.7%) were identified harbouring HBeAg-minus mutants. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.13).


CONCLUSIONS
HBeAg minus variants as predominant viral HB strains play a minor role in the course of chronic hepatitis B in European children.
Wintermeyer
Philip
P
Children's Hospital, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, Witten-Herdecke University, Germany.
Gerner
Patrick
P
Gehring
Stephan
S
Karimi
Afshin
A
Wirth
Stefan
S
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D018388:Codon, Terminator; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation
D018388:Codon, Terminator; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase