[Efficacy of combined active-passive immunization in neonates born to hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers: a study of 60 cases]. / Efficacité de la sérovaccination chez des nouveau-nés de mères antigènes HBs positif: à propos de 60 observations.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B serovaccination in neonates born to HBsAg carrier mothers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in neonates born to HBsAg carrier mothers. They received one dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins (0.3 ml/kg) at birth and four doses of vaccine (0, 1, 2 and 12 months of age). A second dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins was given at 1 month of age in neonates born to hepatitis B antigen-positive carrier mothers. RESULTS: Sixty infants were included. Fifty-seven infants (95.0%) were not infected. The two infected infants were born to hepatitis Be antigen-positive carrier mothers. One infant was chronically infected by hepatitis B virus antenatal transmission and the second one developed an acute hepatitis by vertical perinatal transmission. One to 3 months after the third vaccinal dose, 16 infants (31.4%) were poor responders to vaccine. CONCLUSION: The hepatitis B serovaccination is efficient with four vaccinal doses. In infants born to hepatitis Be antigen-positive carrier mothers the efficacy could be improved increasing the dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulins (0.6 ml/kg) at birth and adding a second dose (0.6 ml/kg) at 3 weeks of life. A careful serological follow-up could be also suggested.