HEPATITIS B MARKERS

ITS TRANSMISSION IN NEWBORNS FROM MOTHERS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the transmission of Hepatitis B virus from infected
mother to their newborns. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Pediatrics Ward-2 and Gynecology &
Obstetric Department Bahawal Victoria Hospital/Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur. Period: From August
2004 to December 2005 Material and Methods: A total of 300 pregnant ladies admitted in the gynecological and
obstetric department for delivery were screened for HBsAG, HBeAG, HBcAB, HBsAB, and HBeAB. The newborns of
the mothers with HBsAG and HBeAG were tested for the same antigens at the time of birth and the ones who were
positives for the antigens were labeled as having “vertical infection” through placenta. Results were tabulated; incidence
of hepatitis was calculated. RESULTS: HBsAG was positive in 37(12.3%) out of the 300 enrolled mothers. Out of the
37 babies born to 37 hepatitis B positive mothers, 4(21%) newborns were positive for HBsAG.In the mothers of these
infected newborns, HBeAG was present in 3 while one mother did not have HBeAG. CONCLUSION: Universal prenatal
screening for hepatitis B in all the pregnant women and protection of their off springs should be provided both by active
and passive prophylaxis immediately after birth depending upon their serological status.