title: Viral hepatitis type B during pregnancy, the neonatal period, and infancy.
abstract: Eighteen women who developed type B hepatitis late in pregnancy or early in the postpartum period (Groups I and II), 12 women who were chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (Groups III and IV), and 32 of their offspring were tested for hepatits B surface antigen, antibody to the hepatitis B  surface antigen, antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen, and the recently discovered hepatitis B-associated e antigen and its antibody. Twelve of 18 infants born to Group I and Group II mothers and 5 of 14 infants born to Group III and Group IV mothers became chronically infected with HBV: the outcome did not appear to be influenced by maternal anti-HBc titers, by HBsAg subtype, by the presence or absence of HBsAg in the cord sera, or by the infants' birth weights or gestational ages. The presence of maternal e Ag, however, did correlate with the development of chronic HBV infections in the infants studied. The e Ag appeared in five infants born of e Ag-negative mothers but did not appear to be associated with the morbid prognosis which generally accompanies its presence in adult HBsAg carriers. Data also suggest that maternal anti-e may favor HBsAg clearance and recovery in neonatally acquired HBV infections.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001724:Birth Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens