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Booster Vaccination in Infancy Reduces the Incidence of Occult HBV Infection in Maternal HBsAg-positive Children

Yi Li1,2, Lili Li1, Yarong Song1

  • 1Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.

Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology
|March 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

A hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) booster in infancy significantly reduced occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) in children born to mothers with hepatitis B surface antigen. This booster dose improved HBV DNA negative conversion rates by age eight.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) in children is linked to immune responses after hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) administration.
  • The impact of HepB boosters on OBI in children is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of a booster HepB dose on OBI incidence in children born to HBsAg-positive mothers.
  • To analyze the long-term outcomes of OBI in relation to vaccination status.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 236 children born to HBsAg-positive mothers were followed until age 8.
  • Children were categorized into a booster group (100 received HepB between 1-3 years) and a non-booster group (136).
  • Serial follow-up data and maternal baseline data were collected for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • OBI incidence fluctuated dynamically, with varying rates observed throughout the follow-up period.
  • At 8 years, the booster group showed a significantly higher HBV DNA negative conversion rate (57.89%) compared to the non-booster group (30.51%, p=0.032).
  • For children without OBI at 7 months, the booster group had a significantly lower OBI incidence (25.64%) than the non-booster group (67.74%, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal HBsAg positivity is associated with a high incidence of OBI in children.
  • Serum HBV DNA levels in children with OBI are intermittently positive and at low levels.
  • A booster HepB dose in infancy is effective in reducing OBI incidence in children born to HBsAg-positive mothers.
Abstract

Keywords:
Boost vaccinationHepatitis B vaccineHepatitis B virusMother-to-child transmissionOccult hepatitis B virus infection

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