Statistical and Histological Studies on HBsAg in Grade-School Childrens

ABSTRACT

A study on prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) in 1,292 grade-school children(548 of rural area, 744 of urban area) by Counterimmunoelectrophoretic method: various liver fuction tests and liver biopsy were performed, and the results obtained are as follows 1) Fifty four of 1,292 children who were selected randomly were positive for HBsAg(4.2%) and incidence of HBsAg was higher in rural area(4.6%) than in urban area(3.9%). 2) The incidence of HBsAg was higher in male children(4.5%) than female Children(3.7%). 3) Age distribution revealed highest incidence at 10(5.9%), years old lowest incidence at 9(2.9%), but any significant interrelationship wasn't found between ages. 4) The order of liver function tests which showed abnormal values by numver are as follows GGT(26.2%), SGOT(23.6%), Total protein(7.1%), SGPT(4.8%), TTT(4.8%), BSP retention test(2.4%), PT(0%). The values of GGT and SGOT were thought to be most useful in HBsAg positive children. 5) All tests showed normal values in 22 children(52.4%), one test and more than 2 tests showed abnormal values each in 18 children(42.8%) and in 2 children(4.8%). 6) On liver biopsy performed in nine HBsAg positive children, one showed normal liver tissue, two showed mild hepatocellular degenerative change, five showed chronic persistent hepatitis and showed chronic active hepatitis. On orcein staining, three showed intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies thought to be HBsAg.