A clinical and immunological study of children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Aim
To identify the clinical status and immunological profile of a cohort of children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to assess the short-term consequences of this infection.

Material and methods
This prospective case-control study included 30 children in the age range 1–15 years with positive HBsAg attending the Hepatology clinic of Alexandria University Children’s Hospital. Twenty children received lamivudine (3 mg/kg, oral, once a day), and 10 children were lamivudine-resistant and received entecavir treatment (10–11 kg/0.3 mg to > 30 kg/1 mg). They were followed up every 3 months for 1 year.

Results
The study showed that 97% of the studied cases were discovered accidentally during routine investigations and only 3% presented by acute hepatitis. Ninety percent of them had family member infection with HBV, of which 70% were the mother. Eighty-seven percent of cases had no clinical signs, and only 13% of cases had hepatomegaly. All of the cases were HBsAg positive, 50% were HBeAg positive, 56.7% were HBeAb positive, 33.3% were HBcAb positive, and 100% were HBsAb negative.

Conclusions
Most of children with HBV infection had associated family member infection and were accidentally discovered. Despite a marked decrease in HBV DNA level after treatment, there was no clearance of HBsAg and no HBsAb seroconversion. Screening for the HBsAb level in children with family members with HBV is recommended.