Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women in Northern Turkey

Background and Aims: Prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is extremely important because HBV infection in early life usually results in a chronic carrier state. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of HBV markers among pregnant women in the Middle Black Sea Region in Turkey.

Methods: Between March 2003 and May 2004, 2654 women in the first trimester of pregnancy who attended the Samsun Maternity and Women's Disease and Pediatrics Hospital pregnancy fallow-up clinics were enrolled into this study. Blood samples were taken and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibody against hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and total hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) tests were studied for only HBsAg positive cases.

Results: HBsAg was found positive in 56 (2.1%; 95% CI: 1.6%-2.7%) and negative in 2598 (97.9%) women. Serological markers of HBV could be investigated in 40 HBsAg-positive cases. HBeAg and anti-HBe were found positive in 5 (12.5%; 95% CI: 2.3%-22.8%) and 31 (77.5%; 95% CI: 64.6%-90.4%) cases, respectively. In all the 40 patients, anti-HBc was found positive and anti-HBs was negative.

Conclusions: Despite routine vaccination introduced in the Turkey national program, we suggest that pregnant women be routinely investigated for HBV infection. In this way, feto-maternal transmission of HBV may be reduced that might play an important role to break the cycle of HBV infection in Turkey.