ABSTRACT

Infants born to mothers with hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be infected despite receiving passive-active immunoprophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of maternal viremia in the transmission of HBV and the passive-active immunoprophylaxis outcomes of infants born to women infected by HBV.

HBV-infected mothers and infants up to 12 months of age receiving passive-active immunoprophylaxis at the Erzurum Nenehatun Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Turkey, between 2014 and 2016 were included in the study. Socio-demographic data for the patients, and hepatitis markers, viral loads and hepatitis markers of children were evaluated.

A total of 26,925 pregnant women were screened for HBsAg between 2014 and 2016. Three hundred twenty-eight HBsAg-positive pregnant women, of whom 271 delivered at our hospital, and 53 mother-infant pairs were included in the study. Of the 53 HBsAg-positive mothers, HBeAg status was positive in 2 (3.72%) and antiHBe status was positive in 51 (96.23%). Viral load was ≥2000IU/ml in 5 mothers (9.43%). The viral loads of 28 mothers (52.83%) were unavailable. Statistically significant associations were determined between maternal HBeAg status, maternal viral load and antibody response (p<0.05). No statistically significant associations were observed between birth weight, gestational age, timing of HBIG and antibody response (p>0.05).

Passive-active immunoprophylaxis in babies of HBV-infected mothers was highly efficacious in preventing perinatal transmission. Antepartum HBsAg markers must be examined in all pregnancies, and passive-active immunoprophylaxis should be given in the first 6-12 h of life to infants of mothers who are HBsAg-positive during pregnancy. Immunization results should be evaluated subsequently. Healthy generations can be produced by treating HBsAg-positivity with high maternal viremia by means of passive-active immunoprophylaxis, thus reducing the economic impact of diseases and care, and improving quality of life. Giving information to parents during discharge training will increase community awareness and contribute to the eradication of hepatitis B.