Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in children born to HBsAg positive mothers: A meta-regression analysis

Abstract

Purpose: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the main mode of spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV), worldwide. The authors performed a meta-analysis to compare the effects of three measures for prevention of MTCT. Materials and Methods: Medline (PubMed) was searched and experts were contacted for references. Odds ratio (OD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as measures of effect sizes. Results: A meta-analysis was performed on randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies comparing the index of MTCT among five groups of pregnant women. Among infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, there were no significant differences in anti-HBs positive rates between the vaccine-only group and combined-immunization group by age 8-12 months. In infants aged 7- 15 months and infants aged 16-24 months, anti-HBs positive rate was 92.6% and 84.0% respectively. Immunoprophylaxis failure rate in mother's age < 28 group was significantly higher than that of ≥ 28 group, and that in vaccine-only group was significantly higher than vaccine plus HBIG group. Conclusions: HBIG and HB vaccine as an immune prophylaxis in infants born to HBV carrier mothers, beginning after birth, is effective in preventing MTCT of HBV.