The effect of hepatitis B antigenemia on pregnancy outcome.

Sixty patients documented to have hepatitis B antigenemia during pregnancy were identified retrospectively and compared with an equal number of matched control patients. Maternal and newborn infant parameters were examined. No statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups, except for an increase in infant birth weight in the group showing antigen-positive test results, specifically in infants born to Oriental mothers. It is concluded that infants born to women testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigen represent normal infants eminently suitable for peripartal preventive immunotherapy.