Liver histology of treatment-naïve children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Shanghai China

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate associations between hepatic histology and clinical characteristics in treatment-naïve children with CHB in Shanghai, China.The liver biopsy specimens of 278 treatment-naïve children with CHB virus infection were scored for inflammation and fibrosis, and correlations with clinical and laboratory data were determined.CHB clinical, virologic, and pathologic features were studied in 278 treatment-naïve children (177 [63.7%] males) in Shanghai, China. Maternal sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen for 277 children. At biopsy, 87.4% of patients were hepatitis B e antigen-positive. The median age at biopsy was 5.1 years (interquartile range 2.8-8.4 years). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid levels were generally high (mean 7.4 logSubstantial heterogeneity in inflammatory and fibrotic levels was observed in treatment-naïve children with CHB in Shanghai, China. Serum ALT levels80 U/l may be a strong indicator of the degree of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis severity. Moderate fibrosis and cirrhosis can appear in children aged 3 years or younger.