Effectiveness of Hepatitis B Vaccination in Babies Born to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen–Positive Mothers in Italy

• DOI: 10.1086/323396
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T16:56:15Z
• Authors: Alfonso Mele; Francesco Tancredi; Luisa Romanò; Anna Giuseppone; Mario Colucci; Aldo Sangiuolo; Rosina Lecce; Brunella Adamo; Maria Elena Tosti; Gloria Taliani; Alessandro R. Zan...
• Keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B vaccine

This study examined 522 children born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers from 1985 through 1994 and evaluated the protection provided by anti-hepatitis virus (HBV) immunization at birth. Babies were given immunoglobulin vaccine At 5-14 years after immunization, 17 (3.3%) anti-HB core positive, 3 also HBsAg positive. One carrier child had a double mutation, with substitution of proline-->serine codons 120 (P120S) 127 (P127S) within determinant HBsAg. Of children, 400 (79.2%) 505 still protective anti-HBsAg titers > or =10 mIU/mL. Thus, HBV vaccination HBsAg-positive is effective confers long-term immunity. There no evidence that emergence escape mutants secondary immune pressure against wild-type concern.