Hepatitis B infection in infants after neonatal immunization.
A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study to prevent hepatitis B infection in 235 babies born to chronic hepatitis B, HBeAg carriers was carried out. Babies in three treatment groups all received heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine. In addition multiple doses of HBIG and a single dose of HBIG were given in groups I and II respectively. After three years of follow-up, 4/60 (Group I), 3/64 (Group II), and 1/64 (Group III) developed chronic infection. For those who escaped chronic infection, other hepatitis events also occurred. They were transient HBs-antigenaemia, anti-HBc conversion and significant rise in anti-HBs titre without seroconversion for anti-HBc. It was deduced that 30% of babies born to hepatitis carriers are naturally protected from chronic infection. Immunization, with vaccine only, protects another 46%. The addition of single and multiple doses of HBIG protects another 10% and 5%, respectively. 2% acquired intrauterine infection and 7% failed to respond to the most intensive immunization schedule.
Ip
H M
HM
Wong
V C
VC
Lelie
P N
PN
Reesink
H W
HW
Schaasberg
W
W
Yeung
C Y
CY
Ma
H K
HK
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011897:Random Allocation; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines