[Frequency of hepatitis B antigens in the blood of pregnant women].
In the antenatal clinics of the Hospital Foch at Suresnes we have instituted testing for hepatitis B antigens routinely of all mothers coming to the clinic so that we can look at the immune state of children born to mothers who have the hepatitis B virus and have hepatitis B antigens. The incidence of hepatitis B antigens altogether was 0.77%, which is twice as frequent as found in blood donors at the same hospital. This high incidence is found in women coming from the African and Asian continents where it is found at the same level in blood donors in the Hauts-de-Seine region. If however we examine women born in France who live in the towns the incidence is 0.32%. An enquiry in a standard medical form does not show a true risk factor. When, however, a more precise questionnaire is filled in, we found that risk factors were present in eight out of ten positive cases. We only made this enquiry on sero-positive women. When the baby was born we gave a 1 ml dose of anti-hepatitis B immunoglobulin (100 IU) followed by three injections of 1 ml of vaccine (HEVAC B Institut Pasteur) on the 1st, 30th and 60th day of life. A repeat injection was carried out when the infant was one year old. Altogether 32 newborns were treated: they tolerated the products well and it was effective because all infants developed anti-hepatitis B antibodies in every case that was followed up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vignon
D
D
Poste de Transfusion, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes.
Bernard
N
N
Melchior
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens
Fréquence de l'antigénémie HBs chez les femmes enceintes.