All issues > Volume 30(10); 1987

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1987;30(10):1115-1123. Published online October 31, 1987.

Chronic Hepatitis B in Children.

Don Gyu Yang¹, Jong Kyun Lee¹, Pyung Kil Kim¹, Chang Ho Hong¹, Chul Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

We reviewed 19 cases of chronic hepatitis B confirmed by liver biopsy during the 3 years and 5months from March 1983 to July 1986 at Young Dong Severance Hospital. The following results were obtained: 1) There were 16 boys and 3 girls with ages ranging from 7 months to 14 years old (mean+S.D.; 6.5 ±0.9 years). 2) There were 2 cases (10.5%) of chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and 17 cases (89.5%) of chronic active hepatitis (CAH). 3) The chief complaint was hepatitis for more than 6 months duration (47.4%), and the main physical finding was hepatomegaly (57.8%). 4) Laboratory results included the followings. All cases were HBs Ag (+), and anti-HBe (+)，the levels of SGOT were 122.1 ±26.1 unit/l(mean±S.D.), of SGPT were 210 ±53.7 unit/1, and of DNA polymerase were 1,897.1 ±657.1 dpm/ml. 5) Liver cirrhosis was combined with CAH in 5 cases (29.4%) and associated with persistent high antigenemia, natural seroconversion, a significant family history of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. 6) After adenine arabinoside (ARA-A) therapy for chronic active hepatitis, seroconversion was demonstrated in 2 cases (15.4%) and transaminase resolution was seen in 8 cases (61.5%) within 8.1 ±1.7 onths.

Keywords :Chronic hepatitis B; Adenine arabinoside