To investigate the mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), we tried to detect HBs antigen, HBV-DNA and HBV polymerase in cord sera and in breast milk of HBV carrier mothers.
In a group of HBe antigen-positive mothers, HBs antigen in breast milk was detected in 33.3%, HBe antigen in 77.8%, and HBc antibody in 62.5%. Among HBe antigen-negative mothers, HBs antigen in breast mirk was detected in 11.1%, HBc antibody in 66.7%. HBe antibody in breast milk was detected in 37.5% among HBe antibody-positive mothers.
HBV-DNA in serum was detected in 6 cases (66.7%) out of 9 HBe-antigen-positive mothers, it was detected in one case (7.7%) out of 13 in cord sera, and just traces of HBV-DNA were found in 2 cases (20%) out of 10 in breast milk. HBV polymerase was detected in 6 cases (75%) out of 8 in the mothers' sera, in one case (7.7%) out of 13 in cord sera, in two cases (20%) out of 10 in breast milk.
By the infants' follow-up study for more than two years, one infant failed to respond to vac-cination and developed a chronic HBV carrier state. Another case had transient hepatitis with high ALT levels but did not develop into a chronic HBV carrier state
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