Influence of different delivery patterns on mother-to-child vertical transmission of HBV

Objective To investigate influence of different delivery patterns on mother-to-child vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods 292 pregnant women with positive hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) who received prenatal examination in Haidian District Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing City were selected randomly and assigned to vaginal delivery group(n=180) and cesarean section group(operation group in brief,n=112).All pregnant women didn't receive any HBV vaccine,HB immunoglobulin and other anti-viral drugs.HB antigens—HBsAg and HBeAg in serum of the infants at their 0,3,6 months of age were detected.Results Among 180 neonates in the vaginal delivery group,the positive rate of HBV of the neonates was 2.78 %(5 cases),and among 112 neonates in the caesarean operation group that was 3.57%(4 cases),and there was no significant difference between the two groups(χ2=0.146,P=0.7360.05).All neonates with positive HBV had positive HBeAg.In vaginal delivery group,no neonates with positive HBsAg were found,and in the cesarean section group,two neonates with positive HBsAg were found and the positive rate was 1.79%,and the difference was not significant(P=0.146).Conclusion In positive rate of HBV among those neonates whose mother is HBV carrier,there is no significant difference between vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group.Those neonates with positive HBsAg only constitute minority of the total neonates with positive HBV and all neonates with positive HBV present positive HBeAg.