title: Chronic hepatitis B in children with or without malignancies: a 13-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in children with or without malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four children (15 boys and 9 girls) with malignancies, followed up by the pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic for CHB between January 2000 and December 2013, were enrolled in the study (Group 1). Group 2 was formed with twenty five children (11 girls and 14 boys) diagnosed with CHB without malignancies. The data from the patients' records were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/antiHBe seroconversion was observed in 3 patients (12.5%) in group 1 and 15 patients (60%) in group 2, with annual seroconversion rates of 1.61% and 16.6%, respectively, and the difference was significant (P<0.01). One patient (6.6%) in Group 1 and 9 patients (53%) in Group 2 showed HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion after treatment and the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.06) Loss of hepatitis B surface antigen was observed in one patient in each of group 1 and 2. No clinical, laboratory and imaging findings of liver disease were observed in any of the patients at the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion rate was lower in patients who had recovered from cancer.
authors.affiliation: Merve Usta, Nafiye Urgancı, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34377, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.affiliation: Merve Usta, Nafiye Urgancı, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34377, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nafiye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Urgancı
authors.affiliation: Merve Usta, Nafiye Urgancı, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34377, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep Yıldız
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yıldırmak
authors.affiliation: Merve Usta, Nafiye Urgancı, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34377, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogan Vural
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
keywords: Children; Chronic hepatitis B; Course of the disease; Pediatric malignancies; Seroconversion