[Efficacy of combined active-passive immunization in neonates born to hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers: a study of 60 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B serovaccination in neonates born to HBsAg carrier mothers.


METHODS
This study was performed in neonates born to HBsAg carrier mothers. They received one dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins (0.3 ml/kg) at birth and four doses of vaccine (0, 1, 2 and 12 months of age). A second dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins was given at 1 month of age in neonates born to hepatitis B antigen-positive carrier mothers.


RESULTS
Sixty infants were included. Fifty-seven infants (95.0%) were not infected. The two infected infants were born to hepatitis Be antigen-positive carrier mothers. One infant was chronically infected by hepatitis B virus antenatal transmission and the second one developed an acute hepatitis by vertical perinatal transmission. One to 3 months after the third vaccinal dose, 16 infants (31.4%) were poor responders to vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
The hepatitis B serovaccination is efficient with four vaccinal doses. In infants born to hepatitis Be antigen-positive carrier mothers the efficacy could be improved increasing the dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins (0.6 ml/kg) at birth and adding a second dose (0.6 ml/kg) at 3 weeks of life. A careful serological follow-up could be also suggested.
Selton
D
D
Service de néonatologie, maternité régionale universitaire, 10, rue du Docteur-Heydenreich, 54042 Nancy, France. d.selton@maternite.chu-nancy.fr
André
M
M
Gosselin
J
J
Hascoët
J-M
JM
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines