Premium
A dynamic study of the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis b virus infection: Relation with the viral replication
Author(s) -
Porres Juan Carlos,
Carreño Vicente,
Bartolomé Javier,
Gutiez Julia,
Castillo Inmaculada
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890280407
Subject(s) - hbeag , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , virology , hepatitis b , hepadnaviridae , medicine , antigen , virus , immunology , biology
A total of 848 household contacts of 285 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) chronic carriers were included in a prospective study. Of the total number of contacts negative for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers at baseline, 330 relatives of 145 HBsAg carriers were observed over a mean period of 20.1 months. Among all household contacts, 284 (33.5%) were found positive for at least one HBV marker. The prevalence of HBV markers was significantly higher among the contacts of more than one HBsAg carrier (75.9%) than among those with only one (26.0%) (P <.001). The presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), specific HBV‐DNA polymerase (HBV‐DNAp), HBV‐DNA, and polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA‐R) in the index case was associated with a significantly higher incidence of HBV markers among household contacts. During the follow‐up, the number of household contacts initially negative for HBV markers who became infected was found to be in direct relation to the presence of HBeAg, HBV‐DNAp, HBV‐DNA and pHSA‐R in the index case.