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Hepatocellular enzyme patterns and hepatitis b virus exposure in multitransfused young and very young hemophilia patients
Author(s) -
Gomperts E. D.,
Lazerson J.,
Berg D.,
Lockhart D.,
SergisDeavenport E.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830110107
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , antibody , hepatitis , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , gastroenterology , liver function , liver function tests , immunology , viral disease , pediatrics , virus
Thirty‐eight children with severe hemophilia A, 11 years of age and under, were evaluated by initial and follow‐up liver function tests (LFTs) in relation to age of onset of transfusion therapy. Each child had at least two complete evaluations within one year for a follow‐up period of at least one year. The mean number of exposure days was 36 with a mean of 275 units of factor VIII per exposure day prior to initial LFTs. At initial testing, 30% of patients demonstrated antibody to HBsAg and 39–51% at least one abnormal serum enzyme level (AST, ALT, LDH). During an average follow‐up period of 34.8 months, two children developed HBsAg‐positive icteric hepatitis. Of those initially serologically negative for HBsAg or antibody, 44% became antibody‐positive. Intermittent abnormalities of at least one serum enzyme were observed in 79% of the patient group, with 13% and 8% being persistently normal and abnormal. Eleven children born after January 1976, receiving only third‐generation RIA‐tested products for HBsAg, constituted a subgroup. Although only one child at first assessment had evidence of hepatitis B virus exposure, 55% had elevated ALTs, indicating considerable frequency of non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in this very young group.