title: Pattern of hepatitis virus infection among pregnant women and their newborns at the Women's Health Center of Assiut University, Upper Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and rate of vertical transmission of HBV and/or HCV infection among pregnant women in Upper Egypt, and assess the preventive efficacy of administering hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine to newborns on their carrier status at 8 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred pregnant women were screened for HCV and HBV serum markers by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Those testing positive had their status confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and their levels of liver enzymes and interferon gamma were evaluated. The newborns of HBV-positive women received hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine and were followed up to assess the rates of vertical transmission and carrier status among the newborns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 500 pregnant women, 6.4% were HCV positive, 4.0% were HBV positive, and 1.0% were both. The vertical transmission rate was 3.1% for HCV, 30.0% for HBV, and 20.0% for a combined infection. The carrier rate of the infants at the end of their eighth month was 10.8% for those with HCV and 8% for those with HBV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection with HBV and/or HCV is highly prevalent among pregnant women in Upper Egypt. The rate of vertical transmission was also high. Administering hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin resulted in a 92% reduction in carrier status among newborns.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. drzahranmk@yahoo.com
authors: Kamal M
authors: KM
authors: Zahran
authors: Mohamad S
authors: MS
authors: Badary
authors: Michael N
authors: MN
authors: Agban
authors: Nafesa H R
authors: NH
authors: Abdel Aziz
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D018963:Hepatitis Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins