Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in Ile-Ife, South Western, Nigeria.

Abstract

AIM:

To determine the perinatal transmission risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the maternal characteristics influencing it.

METHOD:

During routine antenatal screening, women who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were identified and followed through pregnancy. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery. The sera of each mother-baby pair were analyzed for HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBsAb and HBcAb using an immunochromatographic 5-in-1 panel kit. Quantitative HBV-DNA was assessed using polymerase chain reaction technique. Intrauterine infection was defined when neonatal blood test positive for HBsAg positivity and/or HBV-DNA. Confidence level was set at 95% (p < 0.05).

RESULTS:

Of the 716 pregnant women screened 73 (10.2%) were HBsAg-positive. Fifty of these HBsAg-positive women completed the study. Intrauterine infections were detected in 36 (72%) newborns; of them only twelve (24%) had positive HBsAg whereas all of them (n = 36) neonates had detectable HBV-DNA (>100 copies/ml). High maternal HBV-DNA titre was associated with increased neonatal HBV-DNA titre (p = 0.001). Parity, maternal age, and mode of delivery showed no association with perinatal transmission.

CONCLUSION:

The risk of perinatal HBV transmission in this study was high. Perinatal transmission was associated with high maternal viremia. Appropriate prophylaxis for HBsAg-positive mothers and their newborns is advocated.

• Authors: O Atinuke Olaleye, O Kuti, N Olaniyi Makinde, A O Innocent Ujah, O Akinyemi Olaleye, O Olusegun Badejoko, A Akinyemi Akintayo, R Audu
• Journal: Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine (J Neonatal Perinatal Med) Vol. 6 Issue 3 Pg. 231-6 ( 2013) ISSN: 1878-4429 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24246595 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis Antigens

Topics

• Adult
• DNA, Viral (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B (epidemiology, transmission)
• Hepatitis B virus (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical (statistics & numerical data)
• Nigeria (epidemiology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Infectious (blood, epidemiology)
• Risk Factors
• Young Adult