Evolution of HBeAg/anti-HBe status and its relationship to clinical and histological outcome in chronic HBV carriers in childhood.

Fifty-five Japanese HBV carriers under 15 yr of age were followed for 12 months or longer, during which time we investigated the evolution of HBeAg/anti-HBe status and clinical and histological aspects of the liver disease. Of 45 cases positive for HBeAg at the initial examination, 34 remained positive for HBeAg during the follow-up periods, while the remaining 11 lost HBeAg and eight of these seroconverted to anti-HBe. At the final observation, HBeAg positivity in serum was found in as many as approximately 90% of the HBV carriers under 6 yr, but had fallen to 48% in carriers between 12 and 15 yr. The serum transaminase values in 11 cases who lost HBeAg were abnormally elevated for variable periods, but eventually returned to normal. In six of these 11 who had liver dysfunctions, liver biopsy was performed during the HBeAg positive phase or shortly after the disappearance of HBeAg. The histologies of liver were chronic persistent hepatitis in two cases and chronic active hepatitis in four. Repeat liver biopsies of two cases with chronic active hepatitis at the first examination showed nonspecific reactive hepatitis 2 and 4 yr after seroconversion or disappearance of HBeAg. These results indicate that HBeAg-positive HBV carriers with overt liver dysfunctions in childhood are prone to lose HBeAg or to seroconvert to anti-HBe, followed by a marked histological regression, and therefore that special antiviral therapy is probably unnecessary.