| Abstract: | The prospective dynamic study of 229 premature infants with the use of highly sensitive methods, such as the passive hemagglutination test and the enzyme immunoassay, for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies. Of these, 182 infants received plasma (blood) transfusions in the first days of their life. Plasma (blood) used for transfusions was known to contain no HBsAg in accordance with the results of countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis. 47 infants had no plasma (blood) transfusions. In the group of 182 plasma recipients the presence of hepatitis B virus infection was detected in 17.0% of infants, the ratio of icteric, nonicteric and inapparent forms being 1:4.2:2. In the group of 47 infants no case of hepatitis B virus infection was observed. |
