Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 133, Issue 3, September 1998, Pages 382-385
The Journal of Pediatrics

Antibodies to E2 protein of hepatitis G virus in children: Different responses according to age at infection,☆☆,,★★

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(98)70274-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: To study viral persistence and antibody responses after hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in children of various ages.

Study design: We performed an enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to E2 protein (anti-E2) of HGV and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for HGV RNA on serum samples.

Results: Of 28 infants born to HGV RNA–positive mothers, 17 were found to be positive for HGV RNA. None were positive for anti-E2. All 17 infected infants continued to have viremia except 1 who converted to HGV RNA–negative status at 24 months. Six infants had mild elevations of alanine aminotransferase levels (5 HGV-positive and 1 HGV-negative). An additional 14 HGV-infected children (aged 6 months to 14 years) with posttransfusion HGV infection were tested for anti-E2 3 months and 12 months after blood transfusion. None of the HGV RNA–positive serum samples were positive for anti-E2; however, 4 of the 8 children with resolving HGV infection were positive for anti-E2 1 year later.

Conclusions: Mother-to-infant transmission of HGV resulted in a high viral persistence rate and lack of immune responses to HGV. In contrast, anti-E2 appeared in children who recovered from posttransfusion HGV infection. Mode of transmission and age at infection may be important factors in determining persistent HGV infection and defective immune response to HGV. (J Pediatr 1998;133:382-5)

Section snippets

Group 1

From June 1996 to March 1997, we recruited 28 infants born to HGV RNA–positive but HCV- and human immunodeficiency virus–negative mothers who were identified from a screening program during prenatal care at National Taiwan University Hospital. The age of entry ranged between 2 months and 11 months. The latest follow-up age ranged from 4 to 24 months. Blood samples were obtained from these infants every 3 months until 2 consecutive samples showed negative results for HGV RNA. Mother-to-infant

HGV RNA and Anti-E2 ELISA

All the 17 infants were persistently HGV RNA–positive during follow-up except 1 (patient 7) who converted to HGV RNA–negative status at the age of 24 months (Table I).

. Serum HGV RNA, anti-E2, and ALT levels of the 17 infected infants born to HGV RNA–positive mothers

InfantFollow-up age (mo)*SexHGV RNAAnti-E2 (age)Peak ALT level† (U/L)
13-6MPN (6)84‡
26-18FPN (14)21
36-12MPN (12)19
47-10MPN (10)59†
55-18MPN (12)50†
64-21FPN (12)46
78-24FPN (12)42
84-13FPN (13)18
95-18FPN (12)22
105MPN (5)18
112-6FPN (6)16
12

Discussion

Our study of mother-to-infant HGV transmission revealed a high rate of viral persistence in the offspring. Chronic HGV infection, defined as persistent viremia for more than 6 months, accounts for 30% to 90% of all subjects infected as adults,3, 5 whereas 100% of the maternally infected infants in this study were chronically infected according to the same criteria. Except for patient 1 in group 1, all infants were likely to be infected by their mothers, because infants as young as 2 to 3 months

References (18)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (18)

View all citing articles on Scopus

From the Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

☆☆

Supported by a grant from National Taiwan University (NTUH-N87215).

Reprint requests: Mei-Hwei Chang, MD, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and the National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd, Taipei, Taiwan 10016.

★★

0022-3476/98/$5.00 + 0  9/21/92045

View full text