Study on breast-feeding in hepatitis B virus carrier women / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the possibility of breast feeding in chronic asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers after immuno prophylaxis of the infants. Methods The infants with asymptomatic HBV carriers mothers were selected by the obstetric department of Qilu Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan Maternity and Infant Health Institute of Shangdong from Sept 2001 to Oct 2003 prospectively. Umbilical blood HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) was detected at birth. All infants received 200 IU HBV specific immunoglobin(HBIG)within 12 hours and on 14 days after birth. The hepatitis B recombinant vaccine was given within 24 hours after birth and at 1 and 6 months of age. The way of feeding was chosen by the mothers as they liked. There were 55 infants in breast feeding group and 36 in bottle feeding group. Infants were then followed up at 7 and 12 months of age and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti HBs), hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg), hepatitis B e antibody(anti HBe) and hepatitis B core antibody(anti HBc) and HBV DNA. Uninfected infants with negative anti HBs were given repeated dose of vaccinations. Results At 7 and 12 months of age, the positive rates of HBV DNA were 9.09%(5/55)and 9.09%(5/55), anti HBs were 85.45%(47/55)and 90.90%(50/55)in breast feeding group respectively;while the positive rates of HBV DNA were 8.33%(3/36)and 8.33%(3/36), anti HBs were 86.11%(31/36)and 91.67%(33/36)in bottle feeding group respectively. No significant differences was shown in positive rates of HBV DNA and anti HBs between these two groups. Conclusions With appropriate immunoprophylaxis, including hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine, HBV carriers can breast feed their babies.