Author information
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China; Qidong Liver Cancer Institute and Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong 226200, Jiangsu Province, China.
2Qidong Liver Cancer Institute and Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong 226200, Jiangsu Province, China.
3Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
4State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China.
5National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
6Department of Infectious Disease, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
7Qidong Liver Cancer Institute and Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong 226200, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: qdmjgliqin@163.com.
8State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China. Electronic address: quchf@cicams.ac.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The generation of antibodies (anti-HBe) against hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) often coincides with clinical remission in chronic HBV patients. We aimed to examine the effect of maternal anti-HBe in protection against HBV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).
METHODS:
A total of 140 chronic HBV-infected pregnant women participated in this study. Before delivery, maternal HBV serological markers and HBV viral load were determined and anti-HBe titers were semi-quantified. Neonatal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV-DNA status were determined from cord blood. The children were followed to age 1-3 years.
RESULTS:
The HBV-DNA positive rate in cord blood was 75.61% (31/41) in those who were born to mothers with serum HBV-DNA >106 IU/ml, which was significantly higher than in those who were born to mothers with HBV-DNA <106 IU/ml (3/99, 3.03%; p<0.0001). However, 10 newborns from mothers with serum HBV-DNA >106 IU/ml had no detectable HBV-DNA in cord blood; anti-HBe was positive with a median titer of 10 (interquartile range 10-55). A total of 84 children who received hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within 12h after birth and who completed three doses of recombinant HBV vaccination were followed to age 1-3 years (up to May 2014). All 56 children who were born to mothers with serum HBV-DNA levels <106 IU/ml were HBsAg-negative. Five of the 22 children born to anti-HBe-negative mothers with serum HBV-DNA >106 IU/ml acquired an HBsAg-positive status. However, none of the six children who were born to anti-HBe-positive/weak-positive mothers with serum HBV-DNA >106 IU/ml acquired an HBsAg-positive status.
CONCLUSIONS:
The presence of maternal anti-HBe is protective against HBV MTCT, independent of the maternal serum HBV viral load.