Prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus: a comparison between the efficacy of passive and passive-active immunization in Korea.

In a study to compare the prophylactic efficacy of passive and passive-active immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) among newborn infants of HBV carrier mothers positive for hepatitis B e in Korea, both regimens resulted in effective protection against development of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): 10 of 12 recipients of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and 25 of 29 recipients of HBIG and vaccine during nine months of follow-up. Among untreated controls in the same population just before the present study, 12 of 16 developed HBsAg within nine months of birth. Seven recipients of HBIG and vaccine and four untreated infants who had HBsAg in their blood at birth were excluded. The declining antibody levels in infants who received only HBIG as compared with the rising antibody levels in infants who received HBIG followed by three doses of HBV vaccine suggest that long-term protection will be seen only in the latter group.