Outcome of liver disease and response to interferon treatment are not influenced by hepatitis B virus core gene variability in children with chronic type B hepatitis
| Autor: | Teresa Pollicino, Gabriella Verucchi, Filippo Schepis, Giovanni Raimondo, Santa Brancatelli, G. Longo, Luciano Attard |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 1997 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Hepatitis B virus Adolescent chronic hepatitis in children Genome Viral medicine.disease_cause HBV core gene variability hepatitis B virus Antiviral Agents Liver disease Interferon medicine Humans Viral Hepatitis B e Antigens Seroconversion Child Preschool Hepatitis Genome Hepatology business.industry Viral Core Proteins virus diseases Genetic Variation Infant DNA Hepatitis B medicine.disease Virology digestive system diseases Treatment Outcome HBeAg Child Preschool Immunology DNA Viral Carrier State Chronic Disease Mutation Female Viral disease Interferons business medicine.drug |
| Popis: | Background/Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core gene heterogeneity may influence the outcome of liver disease and the response to interferon (IFN) therapy in adult HBV carriers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between HBV core gene variability and evolution of chronic hepatitis in children. Methods: We examined serum samples from 25 children with HBV chronic hepatitis and HBe antigen (HBeAg) positivity who were followed-up for a mean of 7.4 years. Seven cases spontaneously seroconverted to anti-HBe, becoming HBV healthy carriers; nine cases were successfully treated with IFN; nine cases were non-responders to IFN therapy. HBV-DNA was extracted from one serum sample ("I") collected during the HBeAg positive phase, and from a second sample ("II") collected after the anti-HBe seroconversion or, in non-responders, after stopping therapy. The entire core gene of the HBV isolates was amplified and sequenced. Results: Each isolate showed single or no missense mutation independent of the clinical behavior of the patients. HBe-Ag-defective viruses were detected in one cases in both samples and in two cases only in sample "II". Conclusions: Core gene variability does not seem to be involved either in the outcome of infection or in the responses to IFN treatment in children with HBV chronic hepatitis. Considering that most of the HBV carriers in our area acquire the infection in childhood, out data suggest that core gene heterogeneity is not a major cause of progression to chronicity. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|