Liver histological characteristics of 124 children with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To investigate the liver histological characteristics of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods We recruited data of children with CHB and liver biopsy, then analyzed their liver histopathological characteristics and their associations with laboratory parameters. Results One hundred and twenty-four children with CHB were included in the present study, including 114 (91.9%) HBeAg-positive CHB children and 10 (8.1%) HBeAg-negative CHB children. In HBeAg-positive CHB children, the frequency of significant necroinflammation stratified by ALT levels was 32.1% (9/28) in ALT≤ULN, 60.7% (17/28) in ALT(1-2)×ULN and 81.0% (47/58) in ALT>2×ULN group, while significant fibrosis was 46.4% (13/28) in ALT≤ULN, 71.4% (20/28) in ALT (1-2)×ULN and 74.1% (43/58) in ALT>2×ULN group, respectively. Significant liver histological abnormalities were much higher in the ALT>2×ULN and ALT (1-2)×ULN groups than the ALT≤ULN group. Logistic analysis indicated only AST levels associated with significant inflammation (OR=1.032, P=0.008) and significant fibrosis (OR=1.026, P=0.007). Conclusion Frequencies of significant liver histological abnormalities in children with CHB are high, and AST levels are associated with them. Key words: Hepatitis B virus; Child health services; Histology, comparative