Abstract
A boy aged 2 was reported that anti-HBc had been negative in spite of HBV carrier caused by vertical transmission. No liver dysfunction was observed after birth. It was supporsed that HBV transmitted transplacentally in utero, because:
1) HBs antigen was positive within the first week of age.
2) HBV-DNA was positive in umbilical cord blood.
Though the father showed normal response of anti-HBc after acute hepatitis B, the mother revealed low level of anti-HBc at the labor (62.7%, RIA) and 2 years after the labor (78.0%). Genetic abnormality might be suggested about the lack of anti-HBc in patient.
On immunological examination, no abnormality was indicated for the mother but low titer of IgA and decrease of the population of OKT4 cell and OKT4/8 ratio were pointed out in the patient.
This paper suggests the pathological role of anti-HBc in HBV infection, especially transplacental transmission in utero.
