Objective: To study the relationship of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load in HBsAg positive pregnant women to intrauterine infection of their newborns.
Methods: Serum HBV DNA were determined by dot-blot hybridization in 185 HBsAg positive pregnant women. Serum HBsAg were tested by ELISA in their newborns within 24 hours after birth.
Results: The prevalence of intrauterine HBV infection of the newborns was associated with the HBV DNA level of the mothers. With the increase of serum HBV DNA load, the risk of fetal intrauterine infection was increasing.
Conclusion: Fetal exposure to high level of maternal HBV DNA is one of the important determinant of intrauterine infection.
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