HBeAg seroconversion in children infected during early childhood with hepatitis B virus.
BACKGROUND
Seroconversion of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) to anti-HBe is associated with lower viral load and liver diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the seroconversion rate of HBeAg to anti-HBe in children who acquired hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during early childhood.


METHODS
From September 1990 to December 2010, 139 HBeAg-positive children were followed up. Eighty-one subjects were of failure of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine at birth and 58 children <10 years of age who were born before 1990 did not receive HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine. HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBe were assessed every 6 months.


RESULTS
Sixty-two (44.6%) cases were males and 77 (55.4%) were females. The mean duration of follow-up was 18 ± 6.6 years. Twenty-four (17.3%) mothers were HBeAg positive and 115 (82.7%) were anti-HBe positive. Eighty-two (59%) children became anti-HBe positive. The seroconversion rates in the first, second and third decades were 25%, 63.4% and 70.5%, respectively (p<0.001). The children of anti-HBe-positive mothers had a higher seroconversion rate than the HBeAg-positive mothers (75% vs. 33.9%, p<0.0001). Time to seroconversion in children born to HBeAg-positive mothers was similar to those born to anti-HBe positive mothers (hazard ratio (HR)=1.03, p=0.973). Time to seroconversion in children who received hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG was shorter than those who did not (HR=6.35, p<0001).


CONCLUSIONS
HBeAg seroconversion in the second and the third decades was higher than that in the first decade. Children born to anti-HBeAg-positive mothers and those who received HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine had higher seroconversion rates.
Infectious Diseases Research Center, Babol Medical University, Babol, Iran. hagar2q@yahoo.ca
Mohammad Reza Hasanjani
MR
Roushan
Ali
A
Bijani
Sodeh
S
Ramzaninejad
Mahbobeh Hasanjani
MH
Roushan
Mohammad Jafar Soleimani
MJ
Amiri
Masomeh
M
Baiani
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens