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1986•Journal of Medical VirologyRequires access

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, Peter Karayiannis, Sarah A. Galpin, Richard Musoke, T. P. Jowett, P. Mati, P. M. Tukei, Howard C. Thomas

Open publisher page 27 citations

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 HBV-DNA in the maternal plasma. These results imply that vaccination without hyperimmune globulin may be adequate to control HBV infection in Kenya.

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What this paper is about

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 HBV-DNA in the maternal plasma. These results imply that vaccination without hyperimmune globulin may be adequate to control HBV infection in Kenya.

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OpenAlex reports 27 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available 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 HBV-DNA in the maternal plasma. These results imply that vaccination without hyperimmune globulin may be adequate to control HBV infection in Kenya.

Key concepts: HBsAg, Virology, Hepatitis B virus, Transmission (telecommunications), Hepatitis B, Medicine, Hepatitis B immune globulin, Virus

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