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Hepatitis B Infection in Infants After Neonatal Immunization
Author(s) -
Ip Henrietta MH,
Wong Vivian CW,
Lelie P Nico,
Reesink Henk W.,
Schaasberg Wim,
Yeung CY,
Ma HK
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1989.tb01374.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunization , pediatrics , virology , immunology , antibody
A double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled study to prevent hepatitis B infection in 235 babies born to chronic hepatitis B, HBeAg carriers was carried out. Babies in three treatment groups all received heat‐inactivated hepatitis B vaccine. In addition multiple doses of HBIG and a single dose of HBIG were given in pups I and II respectively. After three years of follow‐up, 4/60 (Group I), 3/64 (Group II), and 1/64 (Group III) developed chronic infection. For those who escaped chronic infection, other hepatitis events also occurred. They were transient HBs‐antigenaemia, anti‐HBc conversion and significant rise in anti‐HBs titre without seroconversion for anti‐HBc. It was deduced that 30% of babies born to hepatitis carriers are naturally protected from chronic infection. Immunization, with vaccine only, protects another 46%. The addition of single and multiple doses of HBIG protects another 10% and 5%, respectively. 2% acquired intrauterine infection and 7% failed to respond to the most intensive immunization schedule.