Public Release Type:
Journal
Publication Year: 2012
Authors:
Cloonan YK,
Ling SC,
Li R,
Murray KF,
Rodriguez-Baez N,
Rosenthal P,
Schwarzenberg SJ,
Schwarz KB,
Teckman J
Studies:
Hepatitis B Research Network
The HBRN is an NIDDK-funded network with the two major goals of defining the natural history of HBV in North American individuals and performing clinical trials. The HBRN Pediatric Committee consists of 7 pediatric hepatologists at university centers in California, Washington, Minnesota, Texas, Missouri, Maryland and Ontario, Canada. As of April 2012, the HBRN included 184 children of an anticipated 500. This report describes the investigator-assessed phenotypes and associated locally obtained laboratory data in these children. Results: 67 % were female; median age 9 years (range 1 – 17); 11% were Caucasian, 7% African American, 79% Asian, and 3% mixed or other race; and 58% were international adoptees. Phenotypes were available for 158 and laboratory values were as shown in the table. Conclusion: Over 40% of the children enrolled in the HBRN are immune tolerant, with very high viral loads; and nearly half of the enrolled children are Asian females. These data suggest that the epidemiology of pediatric HBV in North America reflects both the effectiveness of the North American HBV vaccine program and the growing number of international adoptions. This information is essential for planning the best medical care for this population. The HBRN promises to be a useful tool for studying the natural history of this population and for providing participants for clinical trials.