Predictive effect of serial serum alanine aminotransferase levels on spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in chronic genotype B and C HBV-infected children.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The present study aimed to investigate the association between serial serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion age in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected children.

Patients and methods

One hundred four HBeAg-positive chronic genotype B or C HBV-infected patients were included in this long-term prospective cohort study (mean initial age 7.20 years). Serial serum ALT levels and HBV serology markers were measured every 6 to 12 months. The 104 subjects made a total of 2525 visits during the study period, and the majority (93.6%) of visits were within a 1-year interval apart from previous visits. Cox proportional hazards model with time-dependent covariates was used in the survival analysis of HBeAg in these

SUBMITTER: Wu JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3393763 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature