[Vertical hepatitis B transmission by anti-HBe positive hepatitis B carrier mothers].

5 infants (3 boys and 2 girls) were infected vertically with hepatitis B virus by their healthy anti-HBe positive HBsAg carrier mothers. First sign of infection in the infants occurred 1 to 6 months after birth. The course of the disease was as follows: subclinical hepatitis B (1 case), acute hepatitis B with complete resolution (1 case), fatal fulminant hepatitis B (1 case), chronic persistent hepatitis B (1 case), and chronic active hepatitis with rapid progression to cirrhosis. We conclude that anti-HBe positive hepatitis B carrier mothers may be infective and thus may cause serious, eventually fatal disease in their infants. Passive-active immunization must be given to infants of all hepatitis B carrier mothers irrespective if they are anti-HBe positive or not.