title: HBsAG and HBeAG markers among pregnant women in Manila, Philippines.
abstract: The sera of 5,684 pregnant women were tested for HBsAG and 432 (7.6%) were found positive. Positive HBsAG sera were then tested for the e antigen and of 413 tested, 115 or 27.8% were positive. The over-all prevalence rate of e antigen was 2.03%. All women were asymptomatic. Six of 13 HBsAG-HBeAg-positive mothers delivered infants who became HBsAg-positive within two years of age for a rate of 46%. The findings support earlier studies on the importance of the e antigen as an index of perinatal transmission. Also, they support evidence of unusually high rates of transmission among Asian ethnic groups.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010679:Philippines; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens