title: Hepatitis B surface antigen in oocytes and embryos may not result in vertical transmission to offspring of hepatitis B virus carriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) via embryos to children and whether HBV in embryos has an effect on the development of the fetus and pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Long-term follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one couples with a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative woman and HBsAg-positive man, and 41 couples with a HBsAg-positive woman and HBsAg-negative man, whose unfertilized oocytes and nonviable embryos were tested for HBV DNA, RNA, or HBsAg.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV DNA, RNA, or HBsAg analyses in unfertilized oocytes and nonviable embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV serologic markers analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained follow-up data for 71 couples. A total of 24 babies were born, and no newborns exhibited defects at birth. Twelve babies were born to couples with HBV-positive oocytes and/or embryos. The pregnancy outcomes were not associated with the presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos. Three patterns of HBV serologic markers were screened. Twenty babies were anti-HBs-positive. Three babies were negative for HBsAg, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), HBeAg, and antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe). One baby was seropositive for anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HBe at 6 months of age but seroconverted from anti-HBe-positive to anti-HBe-negative at 9 months of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of HBsAg in oocytes and embryos may not result in the vertical transmission of HBV in the offspring of HBV carriers.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: nnrrnnrr@sina.com.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guijin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Embryo; hepatitis B virus; in vitro fertilization; oocyte; vertical transmission