Efficacy of combined hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine in blocking father-infant transmission of hepatitis B viral infection

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of combined immunization of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine (HBVac) in blocking father-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Newborns positive at birth for blood HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or HBV DNA were selected and immunized with HBIG combination HBVac. At 7 months, HBV markers and HBV DNA of each neonate were measured using electrochemiluminescence with the Cobas-e-411 Automatic Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Among all 7-month-old subjects, the negative conversion rates of HBV DNA and HBsAg were 48/61 (78.7%) and 19/41 (46.3%), respectively. Therefore, this study demonstrated that prompt combination L.-H. Cao et al. 4652©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 4651-4657 (2015) injection of HBIG and HBVac can protect some of the HBV DNA-and/ or HBsAg-positive newborns from HBV.

Neonatal Vaccination: Challenges and Intervention Strategies

“…The Hep B vaccine contains alum, which is the only approved adjuvant for use in neonatal vaccines due to its established record of safety and its promotion of Th2-mediated antibody responses. Hep B vaccine confers strong protection, significantly reducing infection rates [9], and has also been shown to have therapeutic value when administered to Hep B-infected infants in conjunction with Hep B immunoglobulin [10]. However, while the Hep B vaccine is satisfactory for protecting neonates, it requires 3 doses, unlike BCG which is protective after only one, and can likely be improved by the incorporation of more potent adjuvants than alum.…”