HEPATITIS B VIRUS MARKERS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA
Abstract
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among women varies from 3.8% in Riyadh area to 15%in Khaiber.1 HBsAg carrier mother may deliver a baby, which has a greater chance of becoming aHBsAg carrier.2 Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infections occur along with HB V infections ascoinfections or superinfections.3 In order to find the risk to the baby, pregnant women were surveyedfor the presence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV markers.References
El-Hazmi, M.A.F. Hepatitis B virus markers in Saudi Arabia: a comparative study in
different regions. Ann. Saudi Medicine 1986; 6: 185-190.
Boxall, E.H. Hepatitis problems in the pregnant and nursing mothers and the new born.
Midwives Chronicle and Nursing Notes. July 1983; 226-229.
Rizzetto, M. The Delta antigen. Herpetology, 1983; 3: 729-37.
Ikram, M.H., Ali S.I., Khawaja, F.I. and Awad, A.H. Hepatitis B virus markers
among the blood donors in Medina Munawarah. Ann. Saudi Medicine 1988; 8: 470- 73.
Mazzur, S. and Jones, N. Equal susceptibility of males and females on Sta Cruz Island to
the carrier state of Hepatitis B surface antigen. J. Infect. Dis. 1976; 133: 331-33.
Lingao, A.L., Domingo, E.D., West, S. et al. Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B virus in the
Philippines. Am. J. Epidem. 1986; 123: 473-80.
Szmuness, W., Stevens, C.E., Ikram, H. et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus and
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Chinese Americans. J. Infect. Diseases, 1978; 137: 822-
Sian Dulfer. Hepatitis B and the new born: a case for vaccination. Postgraduate Doctor
; 10: 375-78.