Related Experiment Videos
Incidence and duration of hepatitis B surface antigenemia after neonatal hepatitis B immunization
S R Bernstein1, P Krieger, B L Puppala
1Department of Pediatrics, Lutheran General Children's Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois.
Insights
Transient hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity occurred in 65% of infants after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine immunization, peaking within 3 days and resolving by 18 days.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric immunology
- Vaccinology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatitis B vaccine is crucial for preventing hepatitis B virus infection.
- Understanding transient antigenemia post-vaccination is important for interpreting infant immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and duration of transient hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity in infants following immunization with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
Main Methods:
- Serial testing for HBsAg in 19 infants post-vaccination.
- Documentation of positive HBsAg test results and their duration.
Main Results:
- 65% of infants exhibited transient HBsAg positivity at least once.
- HBsAg positivity peaked 2-3 days post-immunization.
- The longest observed duration of antigenemia was 8 days, with all infants negative by day 18.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine can induce transient HBsAg positivity in a majority of infants.
- This transient antigenemia is short-lived and does not indicate persistent infection.
Abstract:
After immunization with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, 19 infants were tested serially for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 65% of infants had test results positive for HBsAg at least once, the incidence peaking 2 to 3 days from the time of immunization. The longest documented duration of antigenemia was 8 days; in all patients, HBsAg test results were negative by 18 days.