Maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positivity and sexual intercourse are associated with HBV intrauterine transmission in China: A prospective case–control study

Abstract

The risk of HBV intrauterine transmission increased with increased frequency of sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is concluded that maternal HBV DNA positivity and sexual intercourse in the second trimester are independent risk factors for HBV intrauterine transmission.

Mother‐to‐infant transmission of hepatitis B virus: A Chinese experience

“…HBV DNA positivity is more accurate than HBeAg to predict infectivity. In the present study, maternal HBV DNA level was closely and positively associated with the incidence of HBV perinatal transmission, which is consistent with previous reports[Burk et al, 1994; Xu et al, 2002; Shao et al, 2007]. The risk of transmission was significantly higher from HBeAg‐positive mothers than HBeAg‐negative mothers [6/41 vs. 4/163, odds ratio = 5.96 (1.60–22.12), P < 0.001], and significantly higher in mothers with detectable HBV DNA levels than mothers with undetectable HBV DNA levels [7/57 vs. 3/145, odds ratio = 5.94 (1.48–22.75)].…”

“…HBeAg and HBV DNA in maternal serum are considered reliable markers of potential infectivity and may be associated with a high risk of perinatal HBV transmission [; Xu et al, 2002; Shao et al, 2007]. In the present study, the risk of transmission was significantly higher from HBeAg‐positive mothers than HBeAg‐negative mothers [6/41 vs. 4/163, odds ratio = 5.96 (1.60–22.12)], and the same was true for maternal HBV DNA load [7/57 vs. 3/145, odds ratio = 5.94 (1.48–22.75)], which confirms previous observations[Burk et al, 1994; Zhu et al, 2003; Wang et al, 2005; Shao et al, 2007]. HBV DNA positivity is more accurate than HBeAg to predict infectivity.…”

“…Viral loads above the linear range were determined by dilution as recommended by the manufacturer. HBV DNA was extracted from the serum of HBsAg‐positive infants and their mothers and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as described in our previous report[Shao et al, 2007]. Serum specimens were tested by ELISA for HBsAg (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA), anti‐HBs, HBeAg, and anti‐HBe plus anti‐HBc [total anti‐HBc; if positive, also for anti‐HBc IgM (Kehua Co., Shanghai, China)] if enough serum was available.…”

A predictive value of quantitative HBsAg for serum HBV DNA level among HBeAg-positive pregnant women

“…HBV transmission was primarily perinatal prior to the introduction of the HBV vaccine in China [2]. Previous studies reported that the failure of preventing perinatal HBV transmission was related to several factors such as maternal serum HBV DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, HBV S gene variation, length of labor and neonatal immune deficiency [3][4][5][6]. However, maternal HBV DNA level was the most important factor and the risk of HBV infection was significantly increased for infants whose mothers had high serum HBV DNA levels [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Cost-effectiveness analysis of preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B by injecting hepatitis B immune globulin

“…Testing procedure ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBe antigen (HBeAg), anti-HBe, and anti-HBc in the serum (Kehua Co., Shanghai, China) [18], in maternal sera during pregnancy, and in the sera of infants after the third dose of HB vaccine.…”