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Maternal HBeAg positivity and viremia associated with umbilical cord blood hepatitis B viremia.

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BACKGROUND Hepatitis B (HBV) transmission may result from in utero transmission. We aimed to determine the correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord blood HBV DNA levels in infants delivered… Click to show full abstract

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B (HBV) transmission may result from in utero transmission. We aimed to determine the correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord blood HBV DNA levels in infants delivered by chronic HBV-infected mothers and to describe the effect of cord blood viremia on vertical transmission. METHODS A prospective cohort of 92 chronic HBV-infected mother-and-child pairs recruited over three years was analyzed. Maternal and cord blood were tested for HBV DNA by real-time PCR. Standard immunoprophylaxis with both active and passive immunization was administered to all infants. Serological testing was performed on all infants at 9 months of age. RESULTS Moderate positive correlation of the maternal HBV DNA with cord blood HBV DNA was demonstrated (r2 = 0.521, p = <0.001). HBeAg +ve mothers were younger with higher HBV and cord viremia. At 9 months of age, one infant was infected. Infants delivered by HBeAg positive mothers and mothers with high HBV DNA of more than 6 LOG IU/mL (1 x 106 IU/mL) have increased relative risk of cord blood viremia. CONCLUSIONS Maternal HBV DNA and presence of HBeAg were positively correlated to cord blood HBV DNA in infants delivered by chronic HBV-infected mothers. Our data suggest that reducing maternal viremia during the antenatal period may help to reduce cord blood viremia.

Keywords: hbv dna; cord; viremia; cord blood

Journal Title: Pediatrics and neonatology
Year Published: 2019

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