In utero antiHBV antibodies transmission from mother to fetus

Hepatitis B is an infection caused by a virus called hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus targets liver cells inducing inflammation. When hepatitis B is not properly managed, it can progress to chronic hepatitis and lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Drugs are available to cure hepatitis and vaccine to prevent it. Unfortunately, HBV can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. In addition, when mothers are immunized, they can transfer their antibodies to their fetus during pregnancy, as a passive immunity. According to this, we   evaluated in south of Benin, the protection against the hepatitis B virus that mothers could transfer in utero to their fetus. Thereby, we included 37 mothers and their newborns (38) at the time of delivery at the Bethesda hospital in Cotonou and at Deo gratias Clinic in Porto-Novo. We then measured anti-HBs antibodies in peripheral blood from both mother and newborn. Our results showed that when mothers are immunized, neonates had, like their mothers, high levels of anti-HBs antibodies. Our data suggested that they are protected against VHB

Author(s): Romaric Tochoedo

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