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Clearance of HBV DNA in immunized children born to HBsAg‐positive mothers, years after being diagnosed with occult HBV infection
Author(s) -
Sadeghi A.,
Yahyapour Y.,
Poortahmasebi V.,
Shahmoradi S.,
Roggendorf M.,
Karimzadeh H.,
Alavian S. M.,
Jazayeri S. M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/jvh.12490
Subject(s) - hbsag , occult , medicine , virology , hepatitis b virus , immunology , pediatrics , virus , pathology , alternative medicine
Summary In a previous study, we observed immunoprophylaxis failure due to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) despite the presence of adequate levels of anti‐HBs in 21 (28%) of 75 children born to HBsAg‐positive mothers. The aim of the study was to explore the maintenance of this cryptic condition in this population. Of 21 OBI‐positive children, 17 were enrolled. HBV serological profiles were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Highly sensitive real‐time and standard PCR followed by direct sequencing were applied in positive cases. The mean age (±SD) of studied patients was 6.57 ± 2.75 years. All children still were negative for HBsAg. All but one (94%) were negative for HBV DNA. Only two children were positive for anti‐HBc. The results of the most recent anti‐HBs titration showed that 4 (23.5%) and 13 (76.5%) had low (<10 IU/mL) and adequate (>10 IU/mL) levels of anti‐HBs, respectively. The only still OBI‐positive patient had an HBV DNA level of 50 copy/mL, carried the G145R mutation when tested in 2009 and again in 2013 in the ‘a’ determinant region of the surface protein. Further follow‐up showed that after 18 months, he was negative for HBV DNA. In high‐risk children, the initial HBV DNA positivity early in the life (vertical infection) does not necessarily indicate a prolonged persistence of HBV DNA (occult infection). Adequate levels of anti‐HBs after vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin immunoprophylaxis following birth could eventually clear the virus as time goes by. Periodic monitoring of these children at certain time intervals is highly recommended.