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Factors associated with immunoprophylaxis failure against vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus

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Abstract

In spite of adequate immunoprophylaxis, perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has not been completely eliminated. This study evaluated the factors associated with the failure of HBV immunoprophylaxis. The study participants were 144 children who were born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers of known HBeAg status and they had received HB immune globulin and HB vaccine within 24 hours after birth followed by two further administrations of HB vaccine as recommended. Seventeen of the children (11.8%) suffered immunoprophylaxis failure, defined by HBsAg-seropositivity. The rate of HBV immunoprophylaxis failure was 12%, 0%, 21%, 0%, and 27% among the children born to HBsAg-seropositive, HBeAg-seronegative, HBeAg-seropositive, undetectable HBV DNA, and detectable HBV DNA mothers, respectively. The failure of HBV immunoprophylaxis was significantly associated with maternal HBeAg-seropositivity and HBV DNA seropositivity. To identify those children at high risk of HBV immunoprophylaxis failure, maternal HBeAg and HBV DNA need to be assessed prior to childbirth.

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Abbreviations

HBV:

hepatitis B virus

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Acknowledgement

The Samsung Biomedical Research Institute supported this work (Grant # SBRI CA10151).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, and Center for Clinical Research, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwondong, Gangnamgu, Seoul, South Korea

    Yun-Mi Song

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Kangwan-Do, South Korea

    Joohon Sung

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Soonha Yang

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Yon Ho Choe, Yun Sil Chang & Won Soon Park

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  1. Yun-Mi Song
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  2. Joohon Sung
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  3. Soonha Yang
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  4. Yon Ho Choe
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  5. Yun Sil Chang
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Correspondence to Yun-Mi Song.

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Song, YM., Sung, J., Yang, S. et al. Factors associated with immunoprophylaxis failure against vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus. Eur J Pediatr 166, 813–818 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0327-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0327-5

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