HLA typing associated with hepatitis B E antigen seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a long-term prospective sibling cohort study in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a prospective cohort study to clarify the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms and the seroconversion of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).


METHODS
In the prospective cohort study, 81 HBeAg-positive children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from 40 unrelated families were recruited and followed-up regularly for a mean period of 17.70 +/- 3.23 years. The association between HLA antigen and the age at HBeAg seroconversion was analyzed using Cox regression model with shared frailties under left truncation and right censorship.


RESULTS
HLA-B61 and HLA-DQB1*0503 antigens predicted a higher HBeAg seroconversion rate (relative incidence = 6.17 and 3.22, P = .024 and .017, respectively). Within-family frailty in our sibling cohort study demonstrated a negligible or a low degree of within-family correlation with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in each HLA antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
HLA class I antigen B61 and class II antigen DQB1*0503 are associated with earlier HBeAg seroconversion in Taiwanese children with chronic HBV infection.
Wu
Jia-Feng
JF
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Chen-Hsin
CH
Hsieh
Rhong-Phong
RP
Shih
Hsiang-Hung
HH
Chen
Yi-Hau
YH
Li
Chi-Rong
CR
Chiang
Chih-Yao
CY
Shau
Wen-Yi
WY
Ni
Yen-Hsuan
YH
Chen
Huey-Ling
HL
Hsu
Hong-Yuan
HY
Chang
Mei-Hwei
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D035781:Siblings; D013624:Taiwan
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I