title: Significance of measurement of pre-S2 antigen for the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus in infants born to HBsAg carrier mothers.
abstract: The significance of pre-S2 antigen (pre-S2 Ag) as a marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, especially in infants born to HBsAg carrier mothers who are HBeAg-negative or HBeAg-positive, was evaluated. Pre-S2 Ag was measured by enzyme immunoassay. HBsAg carrier mothers who were HBeAg-negative and HBeAb-positive were divided into two groups: group A, mothers whose infants were not infected with HBV (n = 10) and group B, mothers whose infants were infected with HBV (n = 13). Absorption rates of pre-S2 Ag in group A and B were 0.09 +/- 0.04 and 1.36 +/- 0.95, respectively. The values for pre-S2 Ag in group B were significantly higher than those in group A. Values for pre-S2 Ag among HBsAg carrier mothers who were HBeAg-positive and HBeAb-negative were also measured by reverse passive hemagglutination. In the same way, HBsAg carrier mothers who were HBeAg-positive and HBeAb-negative were divided into two groups: group C, mothers whose infants did not become HBsAg carriers (n = 15) and group D, mothers whose infants became HBsAg carriers (n = 11). The titers of pre-S2 Ag (reverse passive hemagglutination) in group C and D were 2(5.75) +/- 1.68 and 2(10.45 +/- 1.69), respectively. The values for pre-S2 Ag in group D were significantly higher than those in group C. The values for pre-S2 Ag as markers of infectivity became higher with increasing amounts of HBV-DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terazawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orii
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen