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Decline of hepatitis a antibodies during the first 7 months of life in full-term and preterm infants

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In a previous study we have shown that transplacental transfer of hepatitis A antibodies to preterm infants does not differ from that observed in full-term infants. This follow-up study was designed to investigate the decline of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies during the first 7 months of life in full-term and preterm infants, in an endemic region for hepatitis A. Two hundred and fifty newborn infants— 147 full-term and 103 preterm infants—were enrolled. Blood samples from the infants were taken at birth, and at 3 and 7 months of age. Anti-HAV titers were determined by ELISA. A concentration of ≥1∶20 mlU/ml was considered protective. Protective hepatitis A antibodies were present at birth in 48.3% of all full-term and 49.5% of all premature infants. By the age of 7 months only 13% of full-term and 21.7% of preterm infants still had protective titers. For the seropositive full-term infants the geometric mean titers (GMT) were 15,698, 6,107 and 345 at birth, 3 months and 7 months, respectively, and for preterm infants, 10,378, 2,307 and 225 at birth, 3 months and 7 months, respectively. Significant differences in GMT between preterm and full-term infants were found at birth and at 3 monts of age (P<0.05). In a region endemic for hepatitis A, low levels of anti-HAV at 7 months of age may justify trials on infant vaccination since this is the most effective way to eliminate hepatitis A from circulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Neonatology, Schneider Children's Medical Center, 14 Kaplan St., 49202, Petach-Tikva

    N. Linder M.D.

  2. The Central Virology Laboratory, Tel-Hashomer and The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 52621, Israel

    Y. Karetnyi M.D., Ph.D., Y. Gidony M.D., E. Levin Ph. D. & E. Mendelson M.D.

  3. Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer and The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 52621, Israel

    A. Barzilai M.D.

  4. Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    R. Dagan M.D.

  5. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poriah Hospital, Tiberias, Israel

    G. Ohel M.D.

Authors
  1. N. Linder M.D.
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  2. Y. Karetnyi M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Y. Gidony M.D.
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  4. R. Dagan M.D.
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  5. G. Ohel M.D.
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  6. E. Levin Ph. D.
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  7. E. Mendelson M.D.
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  8. A. Barzilai M.D.
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Linder, N., Karetnyi, Y., Gidony, Y. et al. Decline of hepatitis a antibodies during the first 7 months of life in full-term and preterm infants. Infection 27, 128–131 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02560513

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02560513

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