title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jia-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chen-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rhong-Phong
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Hsiang-Hung
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Yi-Hau
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chi-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chih-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Shau
authors.forename: Yen-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Huey-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Mei-Hwei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I