Routine screening for serological markers of viral hepatitis B in pregnancy

: Transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to infant during the perinatal period represents very efficient mode of HBV infection and often leads to severe longterm sequelae. Perinatal transmission can occur when an infant is born to mother positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), frequency of transmission is high if the mother is also HBeAg positive. Prevention of perinatal transmission of HBV is important since the majority of these infants who are infected at birth become chronic carriers and can subsequently develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Routine screening for HBsAg of all pregnant women attending prenatal clinic at the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague in the third trimester of pregnancy by Sevatest ELISA HBsAg Micro I. method (Sevac, Prague) began in June 1986. HBsAg positive patients were subsequently tested for HBeAg and anti-HBe hepatitis markers. Of the 2744 women examined 22 were found HBsAg positive, of these mostly asymptomatic carrier mothers 2 were positive for HBeAg, 14 for anti-HBe and 6 were negative for both HbeAg and anti-HBe. All infants were given passive HBIg prophylaxis in conjunction with HB vaccine after birth regardless of HBeAg status of mother. At present no infant were found HBsAg positive at 6 month of age, observation of this risk group infants continues.