title: Maternal chronic hepatitis B virus does not affect neonatal biotinidase activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biotinidase activity is closely related to liver function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether maternal chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects neonatal biotinidase activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three asymptomatic pregnant women with HBV (group A) and 28 healthy pregnant women (controls) in the delivery room and their newborns (cord blood) underwent laboratory examinations. Serological HBV and liver function tests were performed with standard techniques, while biotinidase activity was measured with an HPLC method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serological HBV tests and HBV DNA showed chronic HBV (precore mutant G1896A) in group A, whereas anti-HBc and anti-HBe were detected in their neonates. Liver function chemistry was found normal in controls and both groups of newborns. Moderately increased transaminases were found in the infected mothers. Interestingly, albumin levels did not differ among the studied groups. Biotinidase activity in HBV mothers (5.76+/-0.6 nmol/min/mL) was significantly decreased (p<0.001) as compared to controls (8.43+/-0.65 nmol/min/mL). The enzyme activity did not differ among the neonates. Biotinidase activity inversely correlated with transaminases but not with albumin or with HBV-DNA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased biotinidase activities were evaluated in mothers with HBV and normal in their neonates. Biotin supplementation in the diseased mothers may prevent possible symptoms due to biotin recycling impairment.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.forename: Kleopatra H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schulpis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.forename: Miltiadis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elefsiniotis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D043523:Biotinidase / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000503:physiopathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000637:Transaminases; D043523:Biotinidase