Hepatitis-Associated Antigen (Australia Antigen) in Mother and Infant

Abstract

In two mothers hepatitis-associated-antigen-positive, viral hepatitis developed one month post partum. Their infants were also positive for the antigen; one infant remained positive for over seven months without signs of hepatitis. The other had biochemical signs of hepatitis but remained clinically well. In two other women antigen-positive viral hepatitis developed late in pregnancy, and they were positive at the time of delivery. The umbilical-cord bloods and the serums of the neonates were negative for the antigen. One of these infants became positive at seven weeks of age. These data suggest that hepatitis-associated antigen need not cross the placental barrier to be transmitted from mother to infant, and that it may be present in an infant for long periods without causing hepatitis.