ASSOCIATION OF HEPATITIS-B SURFACE (HBS) ANTIGENEMIA AND MEMBRANOUS NEPHROPATHY IN CHILDREN IN TAIWAN

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 20  (3) , 121-129
Abstract
Fourteen of 63 children with primary glomerular disease had membranous nephropathy (MN) that was not associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in the sera of all 13 patients tested, but was found in only 6.25% of their parents, 28.57% of their siblings and 18.8% of children with other types of primary glomerular disease. MN in children in Taiwan may be closely related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in most, if not all, instances it is possibly due to horizontal infection rather than vertical transmission. The antigen-antibody system involved remains to be identified. Of 12 cases studied, 4 also showed abnormal elevation of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Liver biopsies obtained from 9 patients demonstrated chronic persistent hepatitis in 3 cases, focal necrosis in 2 and minimal change or normal histology in 4. Although the liver and kidney diseases appeared to be relatively benign during a limited period of observation, the long-term influence of the diseases and their final outcomes remain to be clarified. With the strong association of HBs antigenemia and MN in children and the high incidence of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis in MN, an investigation of liver function and HBsAg carriage in patients with MN and a study of renal function in HBsAg carriers are highly recommended.