Lee LY, Lee GH, Mattar C, Saw S, Aw M. Maternal HBeAg positivity and viremia associated with umbilical cord blood hepatitis B viremia.
Pediatr Neonatol 2019;
60:517-522. [PMID:
30683599 DOI:
10.1016/j.pedneo.2019.01.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B (HBV) transmission may result from in utero transmission. We aimed to determine the correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord blood HBV DNA levels in infants delivered by chronic HBV-infected mothers and to describe the effect of cord blood viremia on vertical transmission.
METHODS
A prospective cohort of 92 chronic HBV-infected mother-and-child pairs recruited over three years was analyzed. Maternal and cord blood were tested for HBV DNA by real-time PCR. Standard immunoprophylaxis with both active and passive immunization was administered to all infants. Serological testing was performed on all infants at 9 months of age.
RESULTS
Moderate positive correlation of the maternal HBV DNA with cord blood HBV DNA was demonstrated (r2 = 0.521, p = <0.001). HBeAg +ve mothers were younger with higher HBV and cord viremia. At 9 months of age, one infant was infected. Infants delivered by HBeAg positive mothers and mothers with high HBV DNA of more than 6 LOG IU/mL (1 x 106 IU/mL) have increased relative risk of cord blood viremia.
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal HBV DNA and presence of HBeAg were positively correlated to cord blood HBV DNA in infants delivered by chronic HBV-infected mothers. Our data suggest that reducing maternal viremia during the antenatal period may help to reduce cord blood viremia.
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