Objective: To study genetic transmission of hepatitis B (HB) between the patients and their children.
Methods: Serum free HBV DNA U5 sequence fragment, integrated type of it in peripheral mononuclear cell and configuration polymorphism of single strand DNA were detected in 74 individuals from 35 families.
Results: It showed that frequency of U5 sequence fragment was significantly higher in male patients and their children born after the occurrence of hepatitis B than in those born before it. They had the completely same electrophoresis sites of single strand DNA. Positive rate and infection rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAG) and core antibody against hepatitis B were all significantly higher in the children born after the occurrence of the disease of male patients than those born before it.
Conclusion: It provides evidence for the theory of genetic transmission of hepatitis B on the basis of molecular genetics.