Low incidence of hepatitis B virus reactivation during chemotherapy among diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma patients who are HBsAg‐negative/ HBcAb‐positive: a multicenter retrospective study

Background: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is less common in lymphoma patients with prior resolved HBV infection [characterized by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative/hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)‐positive status] compared with chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positive) when receiving chemotherapy alone. The use of rituximab in chemotherapy regimen might increase the risk of HBV reactivation in patients with prior resolved HBV infection. However, the incidence of HBV reactivation is uncertain, and prophylactic antiviral treatment for this group of patients during rituximab‐containing chemotherapy is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of HBV reactivation in HBsAg‐negative/HBcAb‐positive patients diagnosed of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and treated with CHOP‐like or RCHOP‐like regimen. In addition, this study also aims to explore the relationship of HBV reactivation and HBV serology. Methods: Patients were identified using data from six university hospitals collected between January 1998 and November 2008. Four hundred and thirty‐seven patients with complete data were selected based on the diagnosis of CD20+ DLBCL, availability of HBV serum markers prior to initiation of chemotherapy and during the development of hepatitis, completion of at least four cycles of chemotherapy using CHOP‐like or RCHOP‐like regimen, and follow‐up for at least 6 months after completion of treatment. The characteristics of the HBsAg‐negative/HBcAb‐positive patients treated with CHOP‐like regimen were compared to those treated with RCHOP‐like regimen. Results: Eighty‐eight patients of the total 437 patients had pretreatment serology of prior resolved hepatitis B, with a prevalence of 20.1%. Among them, 45 patients received CHOP‐like regimen while 43 patients received RCHOP‐like regimen. Five patients developed hepatitis during treatment, two from CHOP group and three from RCHOP group. Only one patient treated with RCHOP had hepatitis associated with HBV reactivation, while the other four patients did not have evidence of HBV reactivation. Those four patients also demonstrated positive HBsAb at baseline, while the only patient who suffered from HBV reactivation had negative HBsAb status. This patient was successfully treated with antiviral medications. There were no statistically significant risk factors predictive of HBV reactivation. Conclusions: The present study revealed a low HBV reactivation rate of 2.3% in prior resolved hepatitis B among DLBCL patients undergoing RCHOP‐like therapy.     

妊娠中晚期应用替比夫定阻断HBsAg阳性孕妇HBV母婴传播效果及对婴儿接种乙肝疫苗应答的影响*

目的 观察应用替比夫定治疗HBsAg阳性妊娠中晚期孕妇阻断HBV母婴传播的效果及其对婴儿接种乙肝疫苗应答的影响。方法 2013年7月~2015年12月我院接诊的100例HBsAg阳性孕妇和100例她们的新生儿,41例孕妇妊娠28周开始服用替比夫定,另59例未接受抗病毒治疗。对新生儿行标准乙肝疫苗全程接种,并随访至12月龄。采用ELISA法检测血清IFN-γ和IL-10水平。应用Logistic回归分析影响婴儿对乙肝疫苗接种应答的因素。结果 抗病毒组孕妇分娩后血清HBV DNA载量为（2.0±1.3） lg IU/ml,显著低于未抗病毒组【（7.1±1.6）lg IU/ml,P<0.05】;抗病毒组剖宫产、早产、产后出血和新生儿窒息发生分别为29.3%、12.2%、4.9%和9.8%,与未抗病毒组的30.5%、11.9%、5.1%和8.5%比,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;在出生后随访1年,在41例抗病毒组孕妇分娩的婴儿中无一例血清HBsAg呈阳性,而在59例未抗病毒组婴儿中6例（10.2%）血清HBsAg阳性（x²=4.436,P=0.035）;50例血清IFN-γ和IL-10高水平组婴儿对乙肝疫苗接种强应答发生率显著增高（P<0.05）;Logistic回归分析发现新生儿血清IFN-γ和IL-10高水平是婴儿对乙肝疫苗接种强应答的保护因素。结论 在妊娠中晚期服用替比夫定可以阻断血清HBsAg阳性母亲HBV母婴传播,且对乙肝疫苗接种应答无明显影响,检测新生儿血清IFN-γ和IL-10水平有助于判断乙肝疫苗接种应答结果,而对可能弱或低水平应答者早期做出补种计划。     

乙型肝炎患者血清Pre-S-2抗原的意义

目的研究ＰｒｅＳ２抗原与乙型肝炎患者ＨＢＶ标记的关系．方法血清ＨＢｓＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｅＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｃＡｂ（＋）的乙型肝炎患者２６例，血清ＨＢｓＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｅＡｂ（＋），ＨＢｃＡｂ（＋）的乙型肝炎患者４７例及健康献血者２０例，血清用ＲＩＡ法检测ＰｒｅＳ２抗原及用ＰＣＲ法检测ＨＢＶＤＮＡ．结果血清ＨＢｓＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｅＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｃＡｂ（＋）的乙型肝炎患者２６例，ＰｒｅＳ２抗原与ＨＢＶＤＮＡ均阳性（１００％）；血清ＨＢｓＡｇ（＋），ＨＢｅＡｂ（＋），ＨＢｃＡｂ（＋）的乙型肝炎患者４７例，ＰｒｅＳ２抗原３０例阳性（６３８％），１７例阴性（３６２％），ＨＢＶＤＮＡ３２例阳性（６８１％），１５例阴性（３１９％），ＰｒｅＳ２抗原与ＨＢＶＤＮＡ均阳性２８例（５９６％），均阴性１４例（３００％）．健康献血者２０例，ＰｒｅＳ２抗原阳性１例（５０％），阴性１９例（９５０％），ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性２例（１００％），阴性１８例（８００％），ＰｒｅＳ２抗原及ＨＢＶＤＮＡ均阳性０例（０％），均阴性１８例（８００％）．结论ＰｒｅＳ２抗原可作为预测慢性乙型肝炎患者病情活动与传染的标志．     

Correlation between Hepatitis delta virus infection and heptitis B virus serum markers

AIM: To analyse the correlation between HDV infection and HBV serum markers. METHODS: Patients who were positive for HBV serum markers were selected and HDV infection was examined in them. Blood donors were used as a control group. Both HDV infection and HBV serum markers were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: HDV infection was detected in 40 of 289 patients who were positive for HBV serum markers. The overall positive rate of HDV infection was 13.8%. The positive rates of HDV infection in HBsAg(+) group, HBcAb(+) group and HBeAb(+) group were 17.6%, 18.8% and 25.2%, respectively, which were higher than that in HBeAg(+) group (10.9%), and none was detected in HBsAb(+) group. HDV infection appeared in HBsAg(+)HBcAb(+)HBeAb(+) patients with a positive rate of 26.2%, which was much higher than that in HBsAg(+)HBcAb(+)HBeAg(+) patients (10.9%). CONCLUSION: HDV coinfection is more frequent in HBsAg(+) HBcAb(+)HBeAb(+) patients than in BsAg(+)HBcAb(+)HBeAg(+) patients. HDV infection is not completely related with the speed and amount of HBV replication.     

Protocol liver biopsies in long-term management of patients transplanted for hepatitis B-related liver disease

AIM:To evaluate the long-term histological outcome of patients transplanted for HBV-related liver disease and given HBIg prophylaxis indefinitely after LT. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients transplanted for hepatitis B were prospectively studied. HBsAg, HBV-DNA and liver function tests were evaluated in the serum 3, 6 and 12 mo after LT and then yearly. LB was obtained 6 and 12 mo after LT and yearly thereafter. Chronic hepatitis (CH) B after LT was classified as minimal, mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: HBV recurred in 7/42 (16.6%) patients after 6-96 mo of follow-up. A hundred and eighty-seven LB were evaluated. Four of 7 patients with graft reinfection, all with unknown HBV DNA status before LT, developed cirrhosis at 12-36 mo of follow-up. Of the 122 LB obtained from 28 HBsAg /HCV- recipients with no HBV recurrence after LT, all biopsies were completely normal in only 2 patients (7.1%), minimal/non-specific changes were observed in 18 (64.2%), and at least 1 biopsy showed CH in the remaining 8 (28.5%). Twenty-nine LB obtained from 7 patients transplanted for HBV-HCV cirrhosis and remaining HBsAg- after LT revealed recurrent CH-C. Actuarial survival was similar in patients with HBsAg or HBsAg- liver diseases. CONCLUSION: Though protocol biopsies may enable the detection of graft dysfunction at an early stage, the risk of progression and the clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined.     

乙型肝炎表面抗原阳性供肝在肝移植中的应用

目的 探讨HBsAg阳性供肝在成人肝移植中应用的安全性及其对患者预后的影响.方法 回顾性分析本中心2007年1月至2010年2月23例接受HBsAg阳性供肝的成人肝移植患者临床资料,患者全部为男性,中位年龄42.5岁(29 ～ 61岁),原发病均为乙型肝炎相关终末期肝病,其中13例术前HBsAg、HBeAg和抗-HBc为阳性,10例术前HBsAg、抗-HBe和抗-HBc为阳性.供体HBsAg均为阳性,术后口服恩替卡韦0.5mg,1次/d,静脉滴注乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白(HBIG),术后1周每天滴注2000 IU.术中及术后采用无激素的免疫抑制方案,术后第1、7、14、21、30天检测患者血清HBsAg、抗-HBs、HBeAg、抗-HBe、抗-HBc、HBV DNA水平,并行肝脏彩色多普勒超声检查.1个月后每月检测及检查1次,并记录患者术后肝功能、肾功能、急性排斥反应、感染、血管并发症、胆道并发症、乙型肝炎复发、肿瘤复发及患者生存等数据.结果 围手术期2例患者死于严重肺部感染,其余21例患者随访至2010年12月(10 ～ 38个月),所有患者术后乙型肝炎未转阴,其中1例患者于术后5个月因胆道缺血再次行肝移植,3例肿瘤患者分别于术后9、14、18个月死于肿瘤复发,18例患者生存,肝功能良好,彩色多普勒超声监测显示肝脏形态、质地良好,HBV DNA监测显示其均为阴性.随访期内,23例患者的生存率为78.3％(18/23),移植肝生存率为73.9％(17/23),未出现乙型肝炎复发所致的肝功能异常、移植肝丢失和病死患者.结论 HBsAg阳性供肝可以安全地应用于乙型肝炎相关终末期肝病的患者.     

妊娠后期应用替诺福韦治疗血清HBV高载量孕妇阻断HBV母婴传播的疗效及安全性分析*

目的 探讨在妊娠后期应用替诺福韦抗病毒治疗阻断HBV高载量孕妇HBV母婴传播的效果及安全性。方法 2015年3月~2017年9月我院诊治的HBV高载量孕妇83例,其中56例在妊娠28周接受替诺福韦口服抗病毒药物至分娩结束,另27例未接受抗病毒治疗。两组新生儿在出生后立即注射乙肝免疫球蛋白（HBIG）和乙肝疫苗,在婴儿出生12个月时检测血清HBV DNA、HBeAg和HBsAg水平,判断感染阻断情况。结果 在分娩时,接受抗病毒治疗妇女血清HBV DNA水平为（3.9±0.7） lg IU/ml,显著低于未抗病毒组[（7.6±0.5） lg IU/ml,P小鱼0.05],血清HBsAg水平为（674.3±301.9） IU/ml,显著低于未抗病毒组[（1104.1±401.2） IU/ml,P小鱼0.05],血清HBeAg水平为（2059.8±996.4） s/co,显著低于对照组[（3479.4±1287.6） s/co,P小鱼0.05]; 抗病毒组HBV母婴传播阻断率为100.0%,显著高于未抗病毒组的81.5%（P小鱼0.05）;抗病毒孕妇均未出现因药物治疗而引起的不良反应,两组新生儿出生时各项生长发育指标比较差异无统计学意义（P大鱼0.05）。结论 在妊娠后期应用替诺福韦抗病毒治疗HBV高载量孕妇对阻断HBV母婴传播效果好,安全性高。     

Impact of previous hepatitis B infection on the clinical outcomes from chronic hepatitis C? A population‐level analysis

Chronic coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with adverse liver outcomes. The clinical impact of previous HBV infection on liver disease in HCV infection is unknown. We aimed at determining any association of previous HBV infection with liver outcomes using antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAb) positivity as a marker of exposure. The Scottish Hepatitis C Clinical Database containing data for all patients attending HCV clinics in participating health boards was linked to the HBV diagnostic registry and mortality data from Information Services Division, Scotland. Survival analyses with competing risks were constructed for time from the first appointment to decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver‐related mortality. Records of 8513 chronic HCV patients were included in the analyses (87 HBcAb positive and HBV surface antigen [HBsAg] positive, 1577 HBcAb positive and HBsAg negative, and 6849 HBcAb negative). Multivariate cause‐specific proportional hazards models showed previous HBV infection (HBcAb positive and HBsAg negative) significantly increased the risks of decompensated cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.65) and HCC (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.09‐2.49), but not liver‐related death (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.80‐1.30). This is the largest study to date showing an association between previous HBV infection and certain adverse liver outcomes in HCV infection. Our analyses add significantly to evidence which suggests that HBV infection adversely affects liver health despite apparent clearance. This has important implications for HBV vaccination policy and indications for prioritization of HCV therapy.     

拉米夫定与替比夫定阻断乙型肝炎病毒宫内感染的疗效和风险分析*

目的 分析应用拉米夫定和替比夫定阻断乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)宫内感染的疗效和风险。方法 2014年6月~2018年6月在我院肝病科和妇产科就诊的慢性HBV携带孕妇120例,在孕28周时,其中40例接受拉米夫定,40例接受替比夫定治疗,分娩后立即停止抗病毒治疗,另20例在孕期未接受抗病毒治疗。新生儿出生后按计划接受标准的乙肝疫苗和乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白注射,随访1年。采用实时荧光定量 PCR法检测血清HBV DNA,采用电化学发光法检测血清HBsAg和HBsAb。结果 入组时,三组孕妇血清HBV DNA水平无统计学差异(P>0.05);分娩时,接受拉米夫定和替比夫定治疗的孕妇血清HBV DNA转阴,显著低于对照组【(7.6±1.5)lg copies/ml,P<0.05】,在分娩后3个月,两组抗病毒治疗的孕妇血清HBV DNA水平再次回到治疗前水平,与对照组比,无显著性差异(P<0.05);在出生时,40例拉米夫定治疗、40例替比夫定治疗和21例未接受抗病毒治疗孕妇所生的新生儿血清HBsAg阳性率分别为5.0%、5.0%和9.5%(P>0.05),在出生后1年,他们血清HBsAg阳性率分别为7.5%、5.0%和14.3%,而血清抗HBs阳性率则分别为92.5%、95.0%和85.7%,也无显著性差异(P>0.05);在接受抗病毒药物治疗期间,拉米夫定组孕妇发生皮疹、一过性ALT升高和肌酸激酶升高分别为5.0%、2.5%和2.5%,与替比夫定组的2.5%、7.5%和5.0%比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 在孕后期应用拉米夫定或替比夫定抗病毒治疗均可有效降低HBV携带孕妇血清HBV DNA水平,对阻断新生儿HBV母婴传播是否有必要,还需要进一步扩大样本量和长期随访观察。     

定量PCR检测乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA及其临床意义

目的:了解不同临床类型乙型肝炎患者HBV DNA含量并探讨其临床意义。方法:应用荧光定量聚合酶链反应(FQ-PCR)技术检测163例乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA含量,应用ELISA法检测上述患者HBV感染血清免疫学标志物(HBV-M),并对两者进行比较。结果:血清HBV DNA水平在不同乙型肝炎临床类型中无显著性差异(P>0.05);与HBV-M对比,HBsAg、HBeAg、抗-HBc阳性病人的检出率为87.76％,HBsAg、抗-HBe、抗HBc病人的检出率为45.71％,HBsAg、抗-HBc病人的检出率为42.86％,抗-HBc单项阳性病人的检出率亦达40.00％;血清HBVDNA含量与黄疸的程度及转氨酶水平的高低未见相关。结论:提示HBV DNA的复制状态与不同乙型肝炎临床类型无明显相关关系;HBV DNA含量高低与肝功能受损程度亦无相关关系。     

乙型肝炎病毒e抗原阳性孕妇所生婴儿联合免疫接种后乙型肝炎病毒血清学标志物的动态变化

目的 观察HBeAg阳性且HBV DNA高载量孕妇所生婴儿用乙型肝炎疫苗联合免疫接种后的母婴阻断效果及HBV血清学标志物的动态变化.方法 回顾性分析HBeAg阳性且HBVDNA≥106拷贝/ml孕妇127例,婴儿出生后即刻及第15天于臀大肌注射高效价乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白200 IU,出生时与第1、6个月于右上臂肌肉注射乙型肝炎疫苗20μg,随访其婴儿至12个月龄.用酶联免疫吸附法及荧光定量PcR检测婴儿出生时及第1、7、12个月时的HBV血清学标志物和HBV DNA载量,观察婴儿出生时HBV血清学标志物模式、母婴传播率、疫苗接种后的HBV宫内感染率、抗-HBs阳性保护率及HBV血清学标志物动态变化.结果 127例孕妇分娩婴儿均为单胎,出生时29例婴儿HBsAg为阳性,其中11例合并HBV DNA阳性,母婴垂直传播率为22.83％.随访至1个月,10例婴儿合并HBV DNA阳性从而发生HBV宫内感染,表现为HBsAg、HBeAg及抗-HBc均为阳性.2例婴儿HBsAg弱阳性,伴有抗-HBs滴度的产生,后续随访中均转阴,乙型肝炎宫内感染率为7.87％.非宫内感染婴儿出生时HBeAg及抗-HBc阳性率分别为96.58％和98.29％,免疫接种后婴儿HBeAg及抗-HBc逐步转阴,均未产生抗-Hbe.非宫内感染婴儿均产生有效乙型肝炎保护性抗体,乙型肝炎疫苗及高效价乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白联合免疫接种后,婴儿抗-HBs滴度从出生至12个月龄逐步上升,母源性HBeAg滴度逐步下降以至转阴.结论 乙型肝炎疫苗联合高效价乙型肝炎免疫球蛋白免疫接种能明显降低HBV母婴传播,增强婴儿乙型肝炎表面抗原保护性抗体,体内母源性HBeAg及抗-HBc亦随之降低甚至转阴.     

Intrahepatic distribution of hepatitis B virus antigens in patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) and hepatitis B core antigen(HBc Ag) in chronic hepatitis B patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 33 chronic hepatitis B patients(mean age of 40.3 ± 2.5 years), comprising of 14 HBe Ag positive and 19 HBe Ag negative patients; and 13 patients with hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma(mean age of 49.6 ± 4.7 years), were included in our study. Immunohistochemical staining for HBc Ag and HBs Ag was done using standard streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique on paraffin-embedded liver biopsies. The HBc Agand HBs Ag staining distributions and patterns were described according to a modified classification system. RESULTS: Compared to the HBe Ag negative patients, the HBe Ag positive patients were younger, had higher mean HBV DNA and alanine transaminases levels. All the HBe Ag positive patients had intrahepatic HBc Ag staining; predominantly with "diffuse" distribution(79%) and "mixed cytoplasmic/nuclear " pattern(79%). In comparison, only 5% of the HBe Ag-negative patients had intrahepatic HBc Ag staining. However, the intrahepatic HBs Ag staining has wider distribution among the HBe Ag negative patients, namely; majority of the HBe Ag negative cases had "patchy" HBs Ag distribution compared to "rare" distribution among the HBe Ag positive cases. All but one patient with HCC were HBe Ag negative with either undetectable HBV DNA or very low level of viremia. Intrahepatic HBc Ag and HBs Ag were seen in 13(100%) and 10(77%) of the HCC patients respectively. Interestingly, among the 9 HCC patients on anti-viral therapy with suppressed HBV DNA, HBc Ag and HBs Ag were detected in tumor tissues but not the adjacent liver in 4(44%) and 1(11%) patient respectively. CONCLUSION: Isolated intrahepatic HBc Ag and HBs Ag can be present in tumors of patients with suppressed HBV DNA on antiviral therapy; that may predispose them to cancer development.     

Donor derived hepatitis B virus infection: Analysis of the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transmitted from organ donor to recipient, but details of transmission events are not widely published. The Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) evaluated 105 cases of potential donor derived transmission events of HBV between 2009‐2017. Proven, probable or possible transmission of HBV occurred in 25 (23.8%) cases. Recipients of liver grafts were most commonly infected (20 of 21 exposed recipients) compared to 9 of 21 exposed non‐hepatic recipients. Eleven of 25 donors were HBV core antibody (HBcAb) positive/HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and infected 8/20 recipients. Of the 10 liver recipients and 1 liver‐kidney recipient who received organs from these donors: six were not given antiviral prophylaxis, two developed infection after antiviral prophylaxis was discontinued, two developed HBV while on lamivudine prophylaxis, one was on antiviral prophylaxis and did not develop HBV viremia or antigenemia. One recipient of a HBcAb positive/HBsAg negative kidney developed active HBV infection. Unexpected donor‐derived transmission of HBV was a rare event in reports to DTAC, but was often detected in the recipient late post‐transplant. Six of 11 recipients (54.5%) of a liver from a HBcAb positive donor did not receive prophylaxis; all of these were potentially preventable with the use of anti‐viral prophylaxis.     

Occult hepatitis B virus infection among Mexican human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected patients

AIM: To determine the frequency of occult hepatitis B infection (OHBI) in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+/ hepatitis B surface antigen negative (HBsAg)- patients from Mexico.METHODS: We investigated the presence of OHBI in 49 HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was analyzed using nested PCR to amplify the Core (C) region and by real-time PCR to amplify a region of the S and X genes. The possible associations between the variables and OHBI were investigated using Pearson’s χ² and/or Fisher’s exact test.RESULTS: We found that the frequency of OHBI was 49% among the group of 49 HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients studied. The presence of OHBI was significantly associated with the HIV-1 RNA viral load [odds ratio (OR) = 8.75; P = 0.001; 95%CI: 2.26-33.79] and with HIV-antiretroviral treatment with drugs that interfere with HBV replication (lamivudine, tenofovir or emtricitabine) (OR = 0.25; P = 0.05; 95%CI: 0.08-1.05).CONCLUSION: The OHBI frequency is high among 49 Mexican HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients and it was more frequent in patients with detectable HIV RNA, and less frequent in patients who are undergoing HIV-ARV treatment with drugs active against HBV.     

Markers for hepatitis A, B and C in methadone maintained patients: an unexpectedly high co-infection with silent hepatitis B

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A, B and C viruses in patients attending a methadone maintenance clinic in New York City. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: The Adult Services Clinic of Weill Cornell Medical College, an urban hospital-affiliated methadone program. PARTICIPANTS: Former heroin addicted adults (n = 103) on methadone maintenance therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Markers for hepatitis A virus [HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and imunoglobulin G (IgG)], hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)] and hepatitis C virus (HCVAb). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and quantitative HCV RNA were also obtained. Qualitative detection of HBV DNA and HCV genotype were obtained in a subset of subjects. FINDINGS: More than 40% of subjects had markers for all three viruses. HCVAb was the most prevalent (83.5%), followed by HBcAb (65.0%), HAV IgG (46.1%) and HBsAb (41.1%). Hepatitis C RNA was detected in 70.6% of HCVAb positive subjects. While no subject had HBsAg, HBV DNA was detected in 26.4% of subjects who underwent this measure; all (n = 20) had HBcAb as their only HBV marker. The presence of HBV DNA did not influence ALT. Subjects with HCV RNA had higher ALTs than those without HCV RNA. CONCLUSIONS: Most methadone-maintained subjects had at least one marker for viral hepatitis, with 41.8% having markers for HAV, HBV and HCV. A quarter of subjects had silent HBV infection, defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the absence of HBsAg. These subjects should be considered infectious and pose a public health risk.     

Hepatitis B virus vaccination and antenatal transmission of HBV markers to neonates

The high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in pregnant women is considered to be the most important factor contributing to the high carrier rate of HBsAg in some populations. Several factors, including the age at which infection occurs, predispose to the acquisition and frequency of the carrier state. The proportion of infected people who become chronic carriers ranges from about 80 to 95% for babies born to HBsAg/HBeAg-positive mothers. In this study of Indonesian infants receiving only active immunization against HBV, we measured the HBV markers passively acquired from their HBsAg-positive mothers. The relationship of these markers with vaccination response and with HBV infection status was studied longitudinally in the infants. In the exposed neonates from the HBsAg-positive mothers (n=61), the seroconversion rate to hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) positivity was 95% after the first booster vaccination, with a geometric mean titre (GMT) of 2017 IUl-1. After 60 months, the GMT in this group decreased to 50 IUl-1. Four newborns in this group became HBsAg carriers. Of the four vaccination failures, three newborns were HBsAg/HBeAg positive at birth, suggesting that they had been infected in utero. No vaccination strategy (active alone, or passive/active) can prevent this transmission from occurring. One carrier was HBsAg negative at birth and up to month 4 but was HBsAg positive at month 12 and subsequently, suggesting a postnatal infection. Vaccination early in life can, to a large extent, prevent perinatal transmission and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection later in infancy and childhood. In this study, the protective efficacy of the vaccination was 85% in the subcohort of neonates from HBeAg-positive mothers and 100% in the subcohort of neonates from HBeAg-negative mothers. Lack of maternal antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAb) correlated strongly with transmission of HBV infection.     

Fulminant hepatitis after allogenic bone marrow transplantation caused by reactivation of hepatitis B virus with gene mutations in the core promotor region

Under immunosuppressive conditions after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), even if hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen is negative but hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) is presented, HBV reactivates and sometimes causes fulminant hepatitis. However, it remains unclear which patients will develop fulminant hepatitis, or whether fulminant hepatitis is caused by host-related factors or by virus-related factors. A 30-yr-old man with a history of aplastic anemia since 3 yr of age underwent allogenic BMT, when HBsAb and HBcAb were positive but HBs antigen (HBsAg) was negative. The donor was negative for HBsAg, HBsAb and HBcAb. After transplantation, the patient was complicated by acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), cytomegalovirus infection, intestinal thrombotic microangiopathy and aspergillus colitis. Chronic GVHD was well controlled by FK506 and prednisolone. Twenty months after transplantation, the patient was admitted with general fatigue and liver dysfunction and was found to be positive for HBsAg and HBeAg. His serum HBV-DNA level was >8.8 log of the genome equivalent (LGE)/mL. Therefore, he was diagnosed as having hepatitis B caused by HBV reactivation and 100 mg/d lamivudine treatment was started. However, jaundice and hepatic failure deteriorated and became fatal. On analysis of the HBV-DNA, two adjacent gene mutations in the core promoter region (T1762/A1764) were detected. Increased replication of the mutated HBV might have caused HBV reactivation which progressed to fulminant hepatitis.     

Clinical and virological factors associated with hepatitis B virus reactivation in HBsAg‐negative and anti‐HBc antibodies‐positive patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or autologous stem cell transplantation for cancer

Summary. We studied clinical outcome and clinico‐virological factors associated with hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBV‐R) following cancer treatment in hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative/anti‐hepatitis B core antibodies (anti‐HBcAb)‐positive patients. Between 11/2003 and 12/2005, HBV‐R occurred in 7/84 HBsAg‐negative/anti‐HBcAb‐positive patients treated for haematological or solid cancer. Virological factors including HBV genotype, core promoter, precore, and HBsAg genotypic and amino acid (aa) patterns were studied. Patients presenting with reactivation were men, had an hepatitis B virus surface antibody (HBsAb) titre <100 IU/L and underwent >1 line of chemotherapy (CT) significantly more frequently than controls. All were treated for haematological cancer, 3/7 received haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and 4/7 received rituximab. Using multivariate analysis, receiving >1 line of CT was an independent risk factor for HBV‐R. Fatal outcome occurred in 3/7 patients (despite lamivudine therapy in two), whereas 2/4 survivors had an HBsAg seroconversion. HBV‐R involved non‐A HBV genotypes and core promoter and/or precore HBV mutants in all cases. Mutations known to impair HBsAg antigenicity were detected in HBV DNA from all seven patients. HBV DNA could be retrospectively detected in two patients prior cancer treatment and despite HBsAg negativity. HBV‐R is a concern in HBsAg‐negative/anti‐HBcAb‐positive patients undergoing cancer therapy, especially in males presenting with haematological cancer, a low anti‐HBsAb titre and more than one chemotherapeutic agent. HBV DNA testing is mandatory to improve diagnosis and management of HBV‐R in these patients. The role of specific therapies such as rituximab or HSCT as well as of HBV aa variability deserves further studies.     

北京市新生儿接种乙型肝炎疫苗的流行病学效果评价

目的评价新生儿接种乙型肝炎疫苗后的流行病学效果.方法收集接种人群历年的报告、现场调查接种情况;分析接种后历年来传染病疫情报告;采用多阶段随机抽样方法,收集接种儿童的血清标本,应用固相放射免疫法(SPRIA)检测血清中乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)、抗HBs和抗-HBc,并与接种初期的检测结果进行比较.结果新生儿接种乙型肝炎疫苗后,其乙型肝炎发病率由接种初期1 8.5 9～20.5 2/10万(x2=58.26,P＜0.01)降至0.39～2.38/10万;HBsAg携带率由2.82%降至0.60%,下降约80.00%(x2=10.75,P＜0.01).结论给新生儿接种乙型肝炎疫苗是预防和控制乙型肝炎病毒感染的有效手段.