[The impact of antepartum injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin on maternal serum HBV DNA and anti-HBs in the newborns].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of antepartum injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) on the maternal serum HBV DNA and the delivery of anti-HBs to the newborns.


METHODS
Before and after injection of three doses of HBIG, Serum HBV DNA levels were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR in 10 non-pregnant and 23 pregnant women of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state. In addition, serum anti-HBs were tested by an enzyme-linked immunoassay in 28 infants born to chronic HBV carrier mothers who received three doses of HBIG during the last trimester pregnancy.


RESULTS
Before and after injection of three doses of HBIG the serum HBV DNA levels in 10 non-pregnant and 23 pregnant women of HBV carrier state were not statistically different [(8.18 +/- 0.50) lg copies/ml vs (7.64 +/- 0.41) lg copies/ml and (6.83 +/- 1.51) lg copies/ml vs (6.83 +/- 1.29) lg copies/ml, respectively]. None of the 28 newborns were positive for anti-HBs.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of three doses of HBIG during the last trimester pregnancy can not reduce the maternal serum HBV DNA levels and the injected HBIG can not be transferred to their newborns. Therefore, there is no sound evidence to support the use of this approach to block mother-to-infant HBV transmission.
Han
Zhong-Hou
ZH
Qinhuangdao Third Hospital, Qinhuangdao 066001, China. hanzh0338@sina.com
Zhong
Lian-Hua
LH
Wang
Jia
J
Zhao
Qing-Li
QL
Sun
Yu-Ge
YG
Li
Li-Wei
LW
Cao
Li-Hua
LH
Hao
Xiang-Chun
XC
Zhuang
Hui
H
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin