Background: Quantification of viral antigens and viral loads in human milk samples from mothers infected with hepatitis B virus is largely unknown.
Research aim: The aim of the study was to quantitatively measure the levels of viral antigens and deoxyribonucleic acid of hepatitis B virus in human milk from mothers infected with hepatitis B virus.
Methods: Fifty-five pairs of milk and serum samples from mothers with positive hepatitis B surface antigen, including 11 hepatitis B e antigen positive, were quantitatively tested to measure viral antigens by microparticle enzyme immunoassay and viral loads by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.
Results: The median level of hepatitis B surface antigen in the human milk samples of mothers with positive or negative hepatitis B e antigen was each lower than that in the sera, respectively (1.10 vs. 4.32 log_{10} IU/ml, t = 10.693, p < .001; -0.77 vs. 2.53 log_{10} IU/ml, t = -25.135, p < .001). The titers of hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis B e antigen in the human milk samples were each correlated with that in maternal serum. The detectable level of deoxyribonucleic acid of hepatitis B virus in human milk ranged from 1.42-5.27 log_{10} IU/ml, whereas that in maternal sera was 1.44-8.66 log_{10} IU/ml. The viral level in human milk was not correlated with that in maternal circulation.
Conclusion: The present study data illustrate the relatively low titers of viral markers in the milk of mothers with positive hepatitis B surface antigen.
【저자키워드】 Breastfeeding, human milk, Infectious disease, Qualitative methods, 乙型肝炎表面抗原阳性母亲, 乳汁中的乙型肝炎病毒, 察性研究, 志物:一, 标, 项观.,