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The prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody in vaccinated Chinese children: A hospital-based study
Yu-Ting Yang1, Ai-Long Huang2, Yao Zhao1
1Research Center for Immunologic and Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China.
Insights
Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) prevalence in vaccinated Chinese children shows a high initial rate possibly due to maternal transfer, with increasing levels in older children. Breakthrough hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are noted in immunized children over 9 years old.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization in China has been ongoing for nearly 30 years.
- Limited data exists on the prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in vaccinated Chinese children.
- Understanding anti-HBc prevalence is crucial for assessing post-immunization status and clinical significance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence of anti-HBc in a large cohort of vaccinated Chinese children.
- To investigate the trends of anti-HBc positivity across different age groups.
- To explore potential implications for HBV immunity and breakthrough infections.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale investigation was conducted on 215,627 hospitalized Chinese children who received HBV vaccination.
- Proportions of anti-HBc were analyzed and stratified by age groups.
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels were also examined for comparison.
Main Results:
- Anti-HBc positivity was 36.6% in the 0-year-old group, potentially maternal.
- Prevalence remained relatively stable (5.69%) in children aged 1-10 years.
- A significant increase in anti-HBc (7.80%) was observed in children aged 11-16 years.
- HBsAg levels also increased significantly in children older than 9 years (1.40%).
Conclusions:
- The high anti-HBc prevalence in 0-year-olds suggests maternal origin.
- Elevated anti-HBc levels in children aged 1-16 years warrant attention.
- The study identified HBV breakthrough infections in vaccinated children over 9 years old, necessitating increased monitoring.
Background & Aims:
After nearly 30 years of immunization, there is little known about the prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in Chinese children. The clinical significance of anti-HBc would be more and more important. In this study, we had tried to analyse the prevalence of anti-HBc in vaccinated Chinese children, exploring the post-immunization status based on a large sample sized investigation.
Methods:
Proportions of anti-HBc were analysed among 215,627 hospitalized Chinese children immunized with HBV vaccination in this study.
Results:
The proportions of anti-HBc were divided into 3 stages: 36.6% in 0-year-old group, followed by 1- to 10-year-old which stayed relatively stable (5.69 ± 0.40%, [4.86-6.28%]), and significant increasing within 11- to 16-year-old (7.80 ± 1.24%, [6.62-9.74%]), meanwhile, similar changes of HBsAg were showed in the corresponding ages, and significantly increased in children older than 9-year (1.40%, [1.00-2.04%]), comparing with 0.30% in 0-year-old, 0.55 ± 0.13% (0.30-0.64%) in 1- to 9-year-old. The average level of anti-HBc maintains 5.99% in children aged 1- to 16-year with 0.63% for HBsAg.
Conclusion:
This is the first study of the prevalence of anti-HBc in vaccinated Chinese children: 36.6% of anti-HBc-positivity was found in 0-year-old group, which could be maternal in origin. Relatively high prevalence of anti-HBc may not be ignored in children aged 1- to 16-year-old. Strangely, our data also showed that HBV breakthrough infection would occur in immunized Chinese children older than 9-year-old, and more attention is needed on those children.
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