Viral Hepatitis
Characteristics of HBV transmission in families with HBsAg-positive fathers and familial clustering of HBV infection
Yang Yuan, Jin Li, He Yingli, Liu Jinfeng, Wang Jing, Wang Ke, Ma Xiaohua, Li Qian, Feng Yuling, Yan Zhi, Yi RuiTian, Chen Tianyan, Zhao Yingren
Published 2016-04-20
Cite as Chin J Hepatol, 2016, 24(4): 246-251. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1007-3418.2016.04.002
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission among family members in families with familial clustering of HBV infection and poor outcomes, as well as the prevalence and distribution characteristics of HBsAg in offspring with different parental HBsAg status.
MethodsThe general information of each member in families with poor outcomes were collected from 2007 to 2010, and serological test was performed to analyze the prevalence and distribution of HBsAg in family members. The chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to analyze and compare the sex of offspring and the prevalence of HBsAg in them in 266 nuclear families with different paternal and maternal HBsAg status.
ResultsThe positive rates of HBsAg in parents, siblings, children, and spouses of the probands were 20%, 88.2%, 76.8%, and 9.5%, respectively. The nuclear families with HBsAg-positive fathers and HBsAg-negative mothers had a significantly increased proportion of male offspring (male/female ratio = 2.02) compared with those with HBsAg-positive mothers and HBsAg-negative fathers (1.22) or those with HBsAg-negative fathers and mothers (0.96). In addition, in the nuclear families with HBsAg-positive fathers and HBsAg-negative mothers, the male offspring had a significantly higher HBsAg positive rate than female offspring (37.4% vs 13.8%), while in those with HBsAg-positive mothers and HBsAg-negative fathers or those with HBsAg-negative fathers and mothers, HBsAg positive rate showed no significant difference between male and female offspring.
ConclusionIn families with familial clustering of HBV infection and poor outcomes, mother-to-child transmission is still the major route of HBV transmission, but father-to-child transmission also plays a role in HBV transmission in this special population. Positive HBsAg in fathers is associated with the increased proportion of male offspring, and father-to-son transmission of HBV is higher than father-to-daughter transmission.
Key words:
Hepatitis B virus; Family clustering; Transmission in families; Offspring sex ratios; HBsAg
Contributor Information
Yang Yuan
Department of Infectious Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’an 710061, China
Jin Li
He Yingli
Liu Jinfeng
Wang Jing
Wang Ke
Ma Xiaohua
Li Qian
Feng Yuling
Yan Zhi
Yi RuiTian
Chen Tianyan
Zhao Yingren
