title: Relationship between the mechanism of hepatitis B virus father-infant transmission and pregnancy outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between the mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) father-infant transmission via reproductive cells and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abandoned in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos of fathers with chronic HBV infection were taken as study objects. HBV mRNA in embryos was detected, and successfully transplanted embryos were followed up to determine the relationship between HBV-infected embryos and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV mRNA signals were detected in one embryo in the group with HBV-positive fathers; the positive rate was 1/18 (5.5%). IVF embryos of HBV-positive fathers with HBV mRNA signals were successfully implanted, but early abortion occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV mRNA was found in abandoned IVF embryos of HBV-infected fathers, which confirmed that HBV could not only enter early cleavage embryos via sperm but also replicate in embryos, resulting in HBV father-infant transmission. HBV may interfere with embryonic development and thus affect pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Center, Shaanxi Maternal and Child Care Hospital, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Zirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Aiyun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Jianxue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China. fengyuncon@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Disease and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China. cnShumeiLin@126.com.
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000821:virology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Father–infant vertical transmission; HBV; Pregnancy outcome