Prenatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus to Neonates Born to Serum Hepatitis B Virus DNA-Positive Mothers

Chia C. Pao; Ding-Shyan Yao; Chieh-Yu Lin; T'sang-T'ang Hsieh

doi:10.1055/s-2007-994672

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1992; 9(1): 61-65
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994672

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Prenatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus to Neonates Born to Serum Hepatitis B Virus DNA-Positive Mothers

Chia C. Pao, Ding-Shyan Yao, Chieh-Yu Lin, T'sang-T'ang Hsieh

Department of Biochemistry, Chang Gung Medical College, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was detected by in vitro enzymatic DNA amplification techniques in 66.7% (six of nine) of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and in 21.1% (7 of 33) of HBsAg-negative pregnant women. Fiveof the HBV DNA and HBsAg-positive women and one HBV DNA-positive but HBsAg-negative woman gave birth to infants positive for serum HBV DNA at time of birth. These results suggest that HBsAg-negative pregnant women are potentially capable of transmitting HBV DNA to their infants.

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