title: The influence of contamination of culture medium with hepatitis B virus on the outcome of in vitro fertilization pregnancies.
abstract: Heat-inactivated human serum is added to the culture medium used for in vitro fertilization and other forms of assisted conception. Because one batch of pooled serum contained hepatitis B virus, an epidemic occurred among women participating in the treatment program. Seventy-nine women had serologic proof of hepatitis B infection. This incident gave the opportunity to study the effect of hepatitis B virus on pregnancy outcome and the newborn. The situation is unique because the preimplantation embryo was exposed to hepatitis B virus or the pregnancy was complicated by a (sub)clinical infection. Twenty-four women were or became pregnant while having an acute hepatitis B infection. Five pregnancies ended in abortion. The remaining 19 pregnancies ended in the birth of 24 children. No evidence for any harmful effect of exposure to hepatitis B virus in the embryonic or fetal period on the newborn could be found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Hospital, Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Drogendijk
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Fetter
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Heijtink
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zeilmaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities; D003470:Culture Media; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens