Abstract
The efficacy of the combined immunoprophylaxis approach (passive plus active immunization) was evaluated in babies born to 52 HBsAg-carrier Saudi mothers, of whom seven (13.5%) were HBeAg-positive and seven were anti-HDV-positive. Newborns were given 100 IU of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) from the Hepuman Berna-Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute, Berne, and hepatitis B vaccine (5 μg) within 12 hours of birth, and the vaccine was given again at 1 and 6 months of age (5 μg/injection). After 18 months of follow-up, all but one baby had protective levels of antibody to HBsAg and none of the babies born to anti-HDV-positive carrier mothers showed evidence of HDV infection. These results show that the combined immunoprophylaxis approach is quite successful in protecting against perinatal transmission of HBV and HDV in the Saudi population. Furthermore, early vaccination against HBV will also protect against HDV infection later in life.