Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in Ile-Ife, South Western, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the perinatal transmission risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the maternal characteristics influencing it.


METHODS
During routine antenatal screening, women who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were identified and followed through pregnancy. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery. The sera of each mother-baby pair were analyzed for HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBsAb and HBcAb using an immunochromatographic 5-in-1 panel kit. Quantitative HBV-DNA was assessed using polymerase chain reaction technique. Intrauterine infection was defined when neonatal blood test positive for HBsAg positivity and/or HBV-DNA. Confidence level was set at 95% (p < 0.05).


RESULTS
Of the 716 pregnant women screened 73 (10.2%) were HBsAg-positive. Fifty of these HBsAg-positive women completed the study. Intrauterine infections were detected in 36 (72%) newborns; of them only twelve (24%) had positive HBsAg whereas all of them (n = 36) neonates had detectable HBV-DNA (>100 copies/ml). High maternal HBV-DNA titre was associated with increased neonatal HBV-DNA titre (p = 0.001). Parity, maternal age, and mode of delivery showed no association with perinatal transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of perinatal HBV transmission in this study was high. Perinatal transmission was associated with high maternal viremia. Appropriate prophylaxis for HBsAg-positive mothers and their newborns is advocated.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
O Atinuke
OA
Olaleye
O
O
Kuti
N Olaniyi
NO
Makinde
A O Innocent
AO
Ujah
O Akinyemi
OA
Olaleye
O Olusegun
OO
Badejoko
A Akinyemi
AA
Akintayo
R
R
Audu
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens
Hepatitis B; Nigeria; intra-uterine infection; perinatal; vertical transmission