The role of transplacental hepatitis B core antibody in the mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus
Journal
Journal of Hepatology
Journal Volume
24
Journal Issue
6
Pages
674-679
Date Issued
1996
Author(s)
Abstract
Aims/Methods: To investigate the influence of transplacental hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) on perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission, we studied the anti-HBc titers in 294 mother-neonate pairs. Results: The anti-HBc titer was highest (10(5.13 ± 0.80) to 10(4.36 ± 0.97) in mothers, 10(5.13 ± 0.76) to 10(5.52 ± 0.98) in infants) in the 200 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier mothers and their infants, second highest (10(4.51 ± 0.76) and 10(4.68 ± 0.76)) in the 60 HBeAg-negative HBsAg carrier mothers and their infants, and lowest (10(3.11 ± 0.76) and 10(3.24 ± 0.83) in the 34 non-carrier mothers and and their infants (p < 0.05). One hundred and ninety-two infants of HBeAg-positive carrier mothers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin as well as hepatitis B vaccines, and were followed prospectively from birth. Ten infants became HBsAg carriers, and their mothers had significantly lower anti-HBc titers than those of the mothers of 182 infants who did not become carriers (p = 0.003), while maternal serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels (29.9 ± 23.6 versus 39.9 ± 58.1 pg/10 ml) did not differ in those two groups (p > 0.25). The same trend was observed in the infants' anti-HBc titers in those two groups (p = 0.0006). Conclusions: The association of lower anti-HBc titers in HBeAg-positive carrier mother-infant pairs and the development of carrier status in the infants suggests a positive role of anti-HBc in the modulation of mother-to-infant transmission of HBV. A high maternal anti-HBc level in serum may be a negative predictor of immunoprophylaxis failure in high-risk infants.
SDGs
Other Subjects
hepatitis B antibody; hepatitis B vaccine; adult; article; disease carrier; female; hepatitis B; human; immunoprophylaxis; major clinical study; placental transfer; priority journal
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article