Prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus carrier state

Abstract

By means of passive and active immunization with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine, 396 of 407 babies born to hepatitis B antigen-positive carrier mothers, were protected from establishing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state during a follow-up period of 12 months or longer. Four infants developed the HBV carrier state before the completion of the immunoprophylaxis schedule, and another seven developed the state after the completion of the schedule. Seroconversion of anti-HBc was observed in 26.8% of the successfully protected infants. In Japan a nationwide program to prevent the vertical transmission of HBV with these procedures was established in 1986, and so liver diseases due to HBV are expected to be eliminated in the near future.