title: Transmission of hepatitis B antigens from symptom free carrier mothers to the fetus and the infant.
abstract: Materno-fetal transmission of hepatitis B was studied in 97 healthy carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Antepartum transmission occurred in at least 10 per cent. Intrapartum transmission may have occurred in about 40 per cent as a result of swallowing of the infective fluid by the baby during delivery, and materno-fetal transfusion during labour. Person to person transmission after delivery played a minor role. The presence of hepatitis B associated e antigen (HBeAg) in 48 per cent of maternal serum correlated strongly with the subsequent presence of antigen in the infants. There was a linear association between the incidence of antigens in cord blood and the duration of the first stage of labour, with a significant association when labour exceeded nine hours. Caesarean section is recommended if mothers have HbeAg; likewise amniocentesis and breast feeding should be discouraged if mothers have HbeAg.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens