Evaluation of S Gene Mutations in Children with Maternally Transmitted Hepatitis B

Background and Objective: Since the distribution of HBV genotypes in patients with hepatitis B indicates the predominant genotypes in specific geographical area, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of S gene mutations in high-risk children with maternal HBV in southeastern Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional prospective study was performed from March 2019 to March 2020. We studied 26 patients infected with hepatitis B virus through vertical route. Serological markers of HBV were tested for HBs Ag, anti-HBs, HBe Ag, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc through ELISA. HBV-positive DNA-HBV samples were examined by nested PCR. The correlation between categorical variables was estimated using Spearmen correlation coefficient.  All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 software. Results: Our study showed that no S gene mutation occurred in studied children. However, 4 (15.4%) of the children were HBe Ag positive, while the frequency of positive HBe antibody positive in the serum of children was 18 (69.2%). Conclusion: In general, since different types of Pre-S / S variants are predominantly identified in patients with chronic HBV that can affect the progression of liver disease, it is therefore necessary to evaluate the types of Pre-S / S variants regularly in HBV. Carriers should be identified to help discover people at higher risk for liver disease. Our study, as a single center study in southeastern Iran, indicated no mutation in this gene in hepatitis B patients.