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The significance of hepatitis associated antigen (HAA) was studied by immunodiffusion techniques in 270 sporadic acute viral hepatitis cases in Greece. The antigen was detected in 94 (34.8%) cases. The incidence was higher in the early stages and declined later in the course of the disease. It was further demonstrated that there is no sex or age difference in the incidence of HAA, which is also independent from the severity of the disease as reflected in the SGPT activity. The cases were characterised by available detailed history as infectious hepatitis (IH) or serum hepatitis (SH). The HAA was detected in almost equal proportions in both types. Also, they did not differ in their mean geometrical titre of HAA or in the trend of decline of their incidence in the later stages of the disease.

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(1974). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 49, 936. Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in maternal blood, cord blood, and amniotic fluid. Transplacental transmission of hepatitis B virus from hepatitis B antigen carrier mothers was investigated by studying the presence of the antigen and its antibody in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid. Hepatitis B antigen was shown in the umbilical cord blood of 2 out of 14 newborns whose mothers were permanent hepatitis B antigen carriers. The antigen was eliminated from the blood of these newborns in less than 3 months. It was also detected in the concentrated amniotic fluid of one hepatitis B antigen cord blood-positive case. Antibodies (anti-HBs) crossed the placental barrier easily and were found in the umbilical cord blood and in the amniotic fluid. They were not detected in the umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid of any of the studied newborns of hepatitis B antigen carrier mothers.These data indicate that the fetuses of carrier mothers are exposed to the hepatitis B virus. However, chronic antigen positivity and anti-HBs production was not shown. Occurrence of in utero infection and subsequent resolution cannot be excluded, but it appears more probable that in utero infection is blocked.