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Chronic hepatitis B in adopted Romanian children
R J Zwiener1, B A Fielman, R H Squires
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|October 11, 1992
Summary
Romanian orphans adopted by U.S. families had a high rate of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Pre-adoption HBV testing in Romania was unreliable, indicating a need for re-testing post-adoption.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- High incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Romanian orphan populations.
- Concerns regarding the reliability of HBV testing conducted in Romania prior to international adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of chronic HBV infection in Romanian orphans adopted by U.S. families.
- To evaluate the accuracy of pre-adoption HBV testing performed in Romania.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adopted Romanian children.
- Review of pre-adoption HBV test results from Romania.
- Coinfection testing for hepatitis D virus (HDV).
Main Results:
- Four out of five adopted Romanian orphans tested positive for chronic HBV infection.
- Pre-adoption HBV test results from Romania were found to be inaccurate for these children.
- One child with known HBV infection was also found to be coinfected with HDV.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant prevalence of chronic HBV infection among Romanian orphans.
- Pre-adoption HBV diagnostic tests conducted in Romania are unreliable.
- Post-adoption HBV screening is crucial for children adopted from Romania.