title: Long-term effect of maternal HBeAg on delayed HBeAg seroconversion in offspring with chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cohort study investigated the long-term effect of maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero-status on the spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in offspring with chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 185 HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected children, with maternal HBV seromarkers checked, were enrolled. The median age at enrolment and follow-up duration was 5.7 years (range, neonate to 16.5 years) and 20.2 years (range, 4.2-31.0 years) respectively. These children were grouped according to the initial maternal HBsAg and HBeAg status: (i) children of non-carrier mothers (n=48); (ii) children of HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected mothers (n=57); (iii) children of HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected mothers (n=80). HBV seromarkers and liver function profiles of these children were performed at 6-month intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-one (65.4%) subjects had achieved spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion at the end of this follow-up study. Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 83.3% of children with non-carrier mothers, 73.7% of children with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected mothers and 48.8% of children with HBeAg-positive mothers during similar duration (P<0.001). Positive maternal HBeAg and genotype C were associated with delayed spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in multivariate analysis (P=0.01 and P=0.002 respectively). In children of HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected mothers, persistent presence of maternal HBeAg showed a trend of association with delayed HBeAg seroconversion in their offspring (P=0.06). Children of late maternal HBeAg seroconversion (>40 years old) had delayed HBeAg seroconversion compared with those of early HBeAg seroconversion mothers (P=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persistence of maternal HBeAg is an important risk factor for delayed spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in children with chronic HBV infection.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Ru
authors: YR
authors: Tseng
authors: Jia-Feng
authors: JF
authors: Wu
authors: Yen-Hsuan
authors: YH
authors: Ni
authors: Huey-Ling
authors: HL
authors: Chen
authors: Chih-Cheng
authors: CC
authors: Chen
authors: Wan-Hsin
authors: WH
authors: Wen
authors: Hong-Yuan
authors: HY
authors: Hsu
authors: Mei-Hwei
authors: MH
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase