Wan-Hsin Wen1,2, Chi-Wen Huang3,4, Wei-Chu Chie4, Chun-Yan Yeung5, Lu-Lu Zhao6, Wen-Terng Lin7, Jia-Feng Wu3, Yen-Hsuan Ni3, Hong-Yuan Hsu3,8, Mei-Hwei Chang3, Lung-Huang Lin9,10, Huey-Ling Chen11,12. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 2. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 7. Department of Pediatrics, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 8. Department of Medical Education and Bioethics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 9. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. lhlinlh@yahoo.com.tw. 10. Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. lhlinlh@yahoo.com.tw. 11. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. hueyling@ntu.edu.tw. 12. Department of Medical Education and Bioethics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. hueyling@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
Despite immunoprophylaxis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in highly viremic mothers remains a global health issue. Using quantitative maternal surface antigen (HBsAg) to predict HBV infection in infants has not been investigated. We enrolled 526 mother-infant pairs with positive maternal HBsAg under current immunoprophylaxis. Maternal viral load and quantitative HBsAg were measured in the peripartum period. Infant HBsAg seropositivity for more than 6 months was defined as chronic infection. Rates of chronic infection in infants at various maternal HBsAg levels were estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results showed that maternal HBsAg was positively correlated with maternal viral load (r = 0.69; P < 0.001) and accurately predicted maternal viral load above 6, 7, and 8 log10 IU/mL with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.97, 0.98, and 0.95. Nineteen infants were chronically infected. After adjustment for the other risk factor, maternal HBsAg level was significantly associated with risk of infection (adjusted odds ratio for each log10 IU/mL increase, 15.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.89-57.94; P < 0.001). The AUC for predicting infection by quantitative maternal HBsAg was comparable to that by maternal viral load (0.89 vs. 0.87; P = 0.459). Estimated rates of infection at maternal HBsAg levels of 4, 4.5, and 5 log10 IU/mL were 2.4% (95% CI, 0.1-4.6; P = 0.04), 8.6% (95% CI, 4.5-12.7; P < 0.001), and 26.4% (95% CI, 12.6-40.2; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Quantitative maternal HBsAg predicts infection in infants as well as maternal viral load does. Antiviral therapy may be considered in pregnant women with an HBsAg level above 4-4.5 log10 IU/mL to interrupt mother-to-infant transmission. (Hepatology 2016;64:1451-1461).
Despite immunoprophylaxis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in highly viremic mothers remains a global health issue. Using quantitative maternal surface antigen (HBsAg) to predict HBV infection in infants has not been investigated. We enrolled 526 mother-infant pairs with positive maternal HBsAg under current immunoprophylaxis. Maternal viral load and quantitative HBsAg were measured in the peripartum period. Infant HBsAg seropositivity for more than 6 months was defined as chronic infection. Rates of chronic infection in infants at various maternal HBsAg levels were estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results showed that maternal HBsAg was positively correlated with maternal viral load (r = 0.69; P < 0.001) and accurately predicted maternal viral load above 6, 7, and 8 log10 IU/mL with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.97, 0.98, and 0.95. Nineteen infants were chronically infected. After adjustment for the other risk factor, maternal HBsAg level was significantly associated with risk of infection (adjusted odds ratio for each log10 IU/mL increase, 15.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.89-57.94; P < 0.001). The AUC for predicting infection by quantitative maternal HBsAg was comparable to that by maternal viral load (0.89 vs. 0.87; P = 0.459). Estimated rates of infection at maternal HBsAg levels of 4, 4.5, and 5 log10 IU/mL were 2.4% (95% CI, 0.1-4.6; P = 0.04), 8.6% (95% CI, 4.5-12.7; P < 0.001), and 26.4% (95% CI, 12.6-40.2; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Quantitative maternal HBsAg predicts infection in infants as well as maternal viral load does. Antiviral therapy may be considered in pregnant women with an HBsAg level above 4-4.5 log10 IU/mL to interrupt mother-to-infant transmission. (Hepatology 2016;64:1451-1461).
Authors: Jodie Dionne-Odom; Gabriella D Cozzi; Ricardo A Franco; Basile Njei; Alan T N Tita Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2021-09-10 Impact factor: 8.661