Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in Kenya: Its relation to the presence of serum HBV‐DNA and Anti‐HBe in the mother

C. Greenfield, V. Osidiana, P. Karayiannis, S. Galpin, R. Musoke, T. P. Jowett, P. Mati, P. M. Tukei, H. C. Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In Kenya hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its sequelae are common. We followed up 49 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐ positive mothers and their newborn infants for 9 months to determine the importance of perinatal transmission in the African and to relate this to the HBe and HBV‐DNA status of the mother. Our study shows that perinatal transmission is relatively unimportant in Kenya and that this may be a consequence of the low levels of circulating HBVDNA in the maternal plasma. These results imply that vaccination without hyperimmune globulin may be adequate to control HBV infection in Kenya.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-142
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Medical Virology
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1986

Keywords

  • HBV‐DNA
  • hepatitis Be antigen
  • perinatal HBV transmission

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