PATHOGENESIS OF POSTTRANSFUSION VIRAL-HEPATITIS IN CHILDREN WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA

The pathogenesis of posttransfusion hepatitis was determined in 14 chi ldren with beta-thalassemia. All had blood samples obtained in 1980 or 1981, were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus in 1983 and had anoth er serum sample collected in 1989. Seven children had detectable antib odies against hepatitis C virus before vaccination, and all were posit ive in 1989. With specific solid-phase enzyme immunoassays, all childr en had antibodies against hepatitis B virus, X and polymerase antigens in 1981, and six had one or both antibodies in 1989. Hepatitis B viru s infection was confirmed by means of polymerase chain reaction, which demonstrated virus DNA in 13 of the 14 children. The amplification pr oducts spanning the X/precore region were smaller than expected, sugge sting mutations in this region. Cloning and sequencing of these produc ts revealed deletions spanning part or all of the X gene. The results show that these children were infected with hepatitis B virus even wit hout other markers in serum, that hepatitis B persists years after vac cination and that such infections are associated with the presence of X deletion mutants. Coinfection with hepatitis B and C viruses, the fo rmer containing a new class of variants, is common in children with be ta-thalassemia.