Long-term effect of maternal HBeAg on delayed HBeAg seroconversion in offspring with chronic hepatitis B infection

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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/liv/2011/00000031/00000009/art00018

Long-term effect of maternal HBeAg on delayed HBeAg seroconversion in offspring

with chronic hepatitis B infection

Authors: Tseng, Yu-Ru1; Wu, Jia-Feng1; Ni, Yen-Hsuan1; Chen, Huey-Ling1; Chen,

Chih-Cheng2; Wen, Wan-Hsin3; Hsu, Hong-Yuan1; Chang, Mei-Hwei1

Source: Liver International, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 October 2011 , pp.

1373-1380(8)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract

Background and aims: 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.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02574.x

Affiliations:1: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital,

Taipei, Taiwan 2: Department of Pediatrics, Pingtung Christian Hospital,

Pingtung, Taiwan 3: Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei,

Taiwan

Publication date: 2011-10-01