Title: Influence of Feeding Modes on Risk of Mother-to-child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus
Abstract: Objective To clarify whether breastfeeding of infants adds risk for the mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods Totally 281 HBsAg-positive pregnant women,in whom 30.2% were also HBeAg-positive,and their 281 infants born from 2002 to 2004,were investigated from October 2009 to March 2010.HBV serologic markers were tested by ELISA and HBV DNA was quantified by real-time PCR.Of the 281 children,222 were breastfed and 59 formula-fed.All children had been vaccinated against hepatitis B and 37.0% received hepatitis B immunoglobulin(HBIG).Results The pregnant women's age,delivery mode,children's age,gender ratio,and administration of HBIG in infants were comparable between breast-and formula-feeding groups(P0.05).The overall prevalence of HBsAg-positive and anti-HBs in the children was 3.2% and 58.0% respectively.In formula-and breast-fed children,the HBsAg-positive rates were 5.1% and 2.7% respectively(P0.05).Further comparison of HBV infection in children of the 85 HBeAg-positive mothers showed that formula-and breast-fed children(27 and 58 respectively) had comparable HBsAg-positive rate(11.1% Vs 10.3%,P0.05),while their mothers had similar HBV DNA levels(2.285×10 6 Vs 2.350×10 6,P0.05).Conclusion With the currently available immunoprophylaxis,breast-feeding of infants born to chronic HBV carriers,add no risk for the mother-to-infant transmission of HBV.Therefore,with administration of HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine, HBV-infected mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their infants.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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