[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in children with cancer under chemotherapy in 6 hospitals of Santiago, Chile].
BACKGROUND
Children under oncological therapy are at risk of infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of infection of HBV in children with cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or have had a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.


METHODS
Collaborative, multi-centric study. Serum samples were collected from 281 children with cancer and episodes of febrile neutropenia, from 6 hospitals belonging to the public health network in the Metropolitan Region, between June 2004 and August 2006. These samples were stored at -70 degrees C. In September 2006, 200 samples were randomly chosen and 170 analyzed to determine hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and anticore total antibodies (anti HBc) by fluorescent ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). In five cases in which a low volume of sample was available, only one marker was studied (HBsAg in two and anti HBc in three).


RESULTS
Samples came from children aged 4 months to 18 years, 104 males (61%). They had received an average of 38 transfusions (range 3-107) from 65 donors (range 3-345). Twelve children were found positive for some marker of HBV: HBsAg in three (1.8%) and anti HBc in ten (7%). In 5 patients that had negative HBsAg and positive anti HBc, anti surface antigen antibodies (anti HBs) were determined and resulted positive in four.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HBV in this sample was 7% if both serologic markers are considered and 1.8% if only HBsAg is considered.
Hospital Exequiel González Cortés, Santiago, Chile. mzubieta@fnh.cl
Marcela
M
Zubieta A
María E
ME
Santolaya
Carmen
C
Hurtado
Ana M
AM
Alvarez
Carmen L
CL
Avilés
Ana
A
Becker
Javier
J
Brahm
Carmen
C
Salgado
Pamela
P
Silva
Santiago
S
Topelberg
Juan
J
Tordecilla
Mónica
M
Varas
Milena
M
Villarroel
Tamara
T
Viviani
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens