Survey of perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission after Korean National Prevention Program in a tertiary hospital.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea have been organizing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical infection prevention projects since July 2002. In this single-institute study, the results of surveys conducted in target mothers who delivered babies in a tertiary hospital were investigated and analyzed.

METHODS:

Of the 9,281 mothers and their 9,824 neonates born between July 2002 and December 2012, 308 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and their 319 neonates were selected for this study, and their records were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS:

A total of 308 mothers were HBsAg-positive, with an HBV prevalence of 3.32% (308/9,281). There were 319 neonates born to these HBsAg-positive mothers, and 252 were confirmed to as either HBsAg-positive or -negative. Four were confirmed as HBsAg-positive, with a 1.59% (4/252) HBV vertical infection rate. All the mothers of neonates who had an HBV vertical infection were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Among the HBsAg-positive neonates, three were HBeAg-positive and had an HBV DNA titer of 1.0 × 10(8) copies/mL.

CONCLUSIONS:

The HBV prevalence of mothers was 3.32% (308/9,281), and their vertical infection rate was 1.59% (4/252). Thus, the South Korean HBV vertical infection prevention projects are effective, and, accordingly, HBV prevalence in South Korea is expected to decrease continuously.

• Authors: Jae Hoon Kim, Ju Seung Kim, Jong Joon Lee, Jung Ho Kim, Suk Young Kim, Young Kul Jung, Oh Sang Kwon, Yun Soo Kim, Duck Joo Choi, Ju Hyun Kim
• Journal: The Korean journal of internal medicine (Korean J Intern Med) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 307-14 (May 2014) ISSN: 2005-6648 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 24851065 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis B e Antigens

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers (blood)
• DNA, Viral (blood)
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Hepatitis B (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention & control, transmission, virology)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (genetics, immunology)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical (prevention & control)
• National Health Programs
• Pregnancy
• Prevalence
• Republic of Korea (epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tertiary Care Centers
• Viral Load