Age, race and viral genotype are associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen in children and adults with chronic hepatitis B. Issue 7 (2nd May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Bisceglie, Adrian M.; King, Wendy C.; Lisker‐Melman, Mauricio; Khalili, Mandana; Belle, Steven H.; Feld, Jordan J.; Ghany, Marc G.; Janssen, Harry L. A.; Lau, Daryl; Lee, William M.; Ling, Simon C.; Cooper, Stewart; Rosenthal, Philip; Schwarz, Kathleen B.; Sterling, Richard K.; Teckman, Jeffrey H.; Terrault, Norah
• Other Names: Chung Raymond T. investigator.; Roberts Lewis R. investigator.; Hassan Mohamed A. investigator.; Sarah Jane Schwarzenberg investigator.; Wong David K. investigator.; Juan Joshua investigator.; Yim Colina investigator.; Patel Keyur investigator.; Murakami Carol S. investigator.; Perrillo Robert investigator.; Rodriguez‐Baez Norberto investigator.; Han Steven‐Huy B. investigator.; Geffen David investigator.; Tran Tram T. investigator.; Anna Suk‐Fong Lok investigator.; Fontana Robert J. investigator.; Younoszai Barak investigator.; Fried Michael W. investigator.; Muir Andrew investigator.; Evon Donna investigator.; Darling Jama M. investigator.; Carithers Robert C. investigator.; Shuhart Margaret investigator.; Kowdley Kris V. investigator.; Wang Chia C. investigator.; Murray Karen F. investigator.; Luketic Velimir A. investigator.; Jake Liang T. investigator.; Hoofnagle Jay H. investigator.; Doo Edward investigator.; Chang Kyong‐Mi investigator.; Park Jang‐June investigator.; Wahed Abdus investigator.; Cloonan Yona investigator.; Kleiner David investigator.;
• Is Part Of: Journal of viral hepatitis. Volume 26:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 856
• Page End: 865
• Publication Date: 2019-05-02
• Subjects: e antigen -- hepatitis B -- natural history; Hepatitis, Viral -- Periodicals; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; 616.3623
• DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-0504

Abstract

Abstract: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is an important serological marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is associated with higher levels of viraemia, increased risk of infectivity to others and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. We analysed HBeAg status in a large cohort of adults and children enrolled in Cohort Studies of the Hepatitis B Research Network, long‐term natural history studies of chronic HBV infection. A cross‐sectional analysis examined factors associated with HBeAg positivity, including demographic and virologic data, across the age spectrum. Among 2241 enrolled participants who met criteria for this analysis, 825 (37%) were seropositive for HBeAg. The prevalence of HBeAg was lower in those with older age, ranging from 85% among those up to 10 years of age to only 12% among those older than 50 years. In addition to age, both race and HBV genotype were independently associated with HBeAg positivity. There was a significant interaction between age and race; the prevalence of HBeAg was significantly higher among Asians > 10‐30 years old vs Whites or Blacks who were >10 to 30 years old and those infected with HBV genotype C. Conversely, the presence of the basal core promoter and precore variants was associated with significantly lower prevalence of HBeAg, even when adjusted for age, race and genotype. These data will provide a better understanding of factors associated with seropositivity for HBeAg and may lead to better strategies for preventing HBV infection and broader indications for antiviral therapy.