[The impact of antepartum injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin on maternal serum HBV DNA and anti-HBs in the newborns].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of antepartum injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) on the maternal serum HBV DNA and the delivery of anti-HBs to the newborns.

METHODS

Before and after injection of three doses of HBIG, Serum HBV DNA levels were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR in 10 non-pregnant and 23 pregnant women of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state. In addition, serum anti-HBs were tested by an enzyme-linked immunoassay in 28 infants born to chronic HBV carrier mothers who received three doses of HBIG during the last trimester pregnancy.

RESULTS

Before and after injection of three doses of HBIG the serum HBV DNA levels in 10 non-pregnant and 23 pregnant women of HBV carrier state were not statistically different [(8.18 +/- 0.50) lg copies/ml vs (7.64 +/- 0.41) lg copies/ml and (6.83 +/- 1.51) lg copies/ml vs (6.83 +/- 1.29) lg copies/ml, respectively]. None of the 28 newborns were positive for anti-HBs.

CONCLUSION

The administration of three doses of HBIG during the last trimester pregnancy can not reduce the maternal serum HBV DNA levels and the injected HBIG can not be transferred to their newborns. Therefore, there is no sound evidence to support the use of this approach to block mother-to-infant HBV transmission.