Prevention of maternal-infant hepatitis B virus transmission by immunization: the role of serum hepatitis B virus DNA.
Sera from 108 HBsAg carrier mothers at delivery and their respective offspring at birth and at 6 months of age were examined for hepatitis B virus DNA by the dot-blot hybridization technique. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 83% of 88 carrier mothers who were HBeAg positive, and in 10% of 20 carrier mothers who were HBeAg negative. All five infants born to HBeAg-positive carrier mothers with hepatitis B virus DNA levels over 80 pg per 10 microliters of serum were infected by hepatitis B virus, in spite of receiving hepatitis B immunization. All 17 infants without hepatitis B immunization who were born to HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA-positive carrier mothers developed hepatitis B virus infection. Of 56 infants born to HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA-positive carrier mothers and who had received hepatitis B immunization, a higher hepatitis B virus infection rate was found in a group of infants whose sera hepatitis B virus DNA were positive (15/16, 93.8%) than in infants whose sera were negative (17/40, 42.5%) at birth (p less than 0.0005). These data suggest that the assay for hepatitis B virus DNA in sera of HBsAg carrier mothers at delivery or their infants at birth will predict the efficacy of hepatitis B immunization for prevention of maternal-infant hepatitis B virus transmission.
Lee
S D
SD
Lo
K J
KJ
Wu
J C
JC
Tsai
Y T
YT
Wang
J Y
JY
Ting
L P
LP
Tong
M J
MJ
D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines