Hepatitis B infection in infants after neonatal immunization

• Published in: Acta paediatrica Japonica. Overseas edition Vol. 31; no. 6; p. 654
• Main Authors: Ip, H M, Wong, V C, Lelie, P N, Reesink, H W, Schaasberg, W, Yeung, C Y, Ma, H K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 01.12.1989
• Subjects: Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatitis B - immunology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Infant, Newborn; Random Allocation; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0374-5600
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.1989.tb01374.x

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 groups 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.