Factors affecting the natural decay of hepatitis b surface antigen in children with chronic hepatitis b virus infection during long-term follow-up

Objective To investigate the factors predicting spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in a long-term, prospectively followed cohort from childhood into adult life.

Study design Children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection without treatment were followed longitudinally every 6 months. At each visit, liver profiles and HBV markers were assessed. Hepatitis B vaccination history and the maternal HBV markers also were studied.

Results A total of 349 children (205 male) were followed for 20.6 ± 4.4 years with initial ages of 8.4 ± 3.9 years; 42 (12.0%) cleared HBsAg spontaneously. The HBsAg titers decayed with age, with an average annual clearance rate of 0.58%. Children had a lower annual HBsAg decay rate if their mothers are HBsAg carriers (P <.001). Hepatitis B e antigen-seroconversion is a favorable predictor for spontaneous HBsAg clearance (P =.04). Those with HBsAg titer ≥1000 IU/mL at enrollment during childhood have a higher rate of HBsAg clearance (hazard ratio = 5.23; P <.001). Using HBsAg titer ≥1000 IU/mL to predict HBsAg clearance, the sensitivity is 38.1%, specificity is 90.6%, positive predictive value is 35.6%, and negative predictive value is 91.4%.

Conclusions During long-term follow-up, spontaneous HBsAg clearance is most likely to occur in a patient born to a non-HBsAg-carrier mother, is a hepatitis B e antigen-seroconverter, and had an initial HBsAg level ≥1000 IU/mL.