title: [Perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission].
abstract: Using the highly sensitive Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA has already been detected in many patients negative for all other serological HBV markers [12]. But yet, the relevance of these findings as a marker of infectivity has not been determined. We therefore have used the PCR to examine the perinatal route of HBV transmission by testing sera from 109 mother-child pairs in Yaoundé, Cameroon. HBV-DNA was detected in 25 (23%) of the mother's sera from which only 5 were positive for HBsAg. At the age of 6 months only one baby out of 25 who could be retested had become positive for HBV-DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg. Low serum HBV-DNA levels which are still detectable by the PCR therefore seem not to be associated with a high risk of perinatal HBV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Giessen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grathwohl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ndumbe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uy
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gerlich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Repp
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
vernacular_title: Perinatale Hepatitis-B-Virus-Ubertragung.