Study on the S region gene mutation of hepatitis B virus during prevention of HBV transmission in uterus with hepatitis B immunoglobulin / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) injection before delivery and hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene mutation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>18 neonates infected with HBV in uterus and their mothers were divided to a) HBIG group (8) in which their mothers received HBIG injection before delivery and b) control group (10) in which their mothers never received any treatment HBV DNA fragments were amplified by nest-PCR from sera of these neonates and their mothers. S gene region of these HBV DNA fragments were directly sequenced and data on mutations was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference on nucleotide and amino acid changes in the S gene between the HBIG group and the control group. The majority HBV strains of newborn (17/18) were identical to their mother's dominant strains before delivery, including four mutation HBV strains. Among 18 newborns with HBV intrauterine infection, 12 were infected by B type (adw2), and 6 by C type (adrq+).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mothers who were asymptomatic HBsAg carrier and received injections ofHBIG before delivery would not be influenced by HBV S gene mutation. HBV intrauterine transmission with or without gene mutation might occur in the third-trimester of pregnancy. Gene mutation of HBV was not the main factor in intrauterine transmission of HBV.</p>