The prevalence of hepatititis B surface antigen in Asia and West Pacific areas shows a high range from 0. 1% to 15%, also in Korea around 10%. In order to determine the prevalence of HBs Ag, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc, HBeAg and Anti-HBe especially in the vertical transmission, above antigens and antibodies were detected by Radioimmunoassay in asymptomatic 361 pregnant women and their 361 newborn infants who were born at Korea University Hospital during the period of 14 months from Jan. 1983 to Feb. 1984.
The following results were obtained:
1. The majority was in birth weight of 3, 001-3, 500gm and both sexes showed almost same ratio(51.2% : 48.8%).
2. HBsAg was positive in 5.3% of pregnant women and 4.4% of newborn infants.
3. 16 newborn infants with HBsAg positive were born all to the HBsAg positive mothers. It shows very high percent (84. 2%) of the vertical transmission.
4. There was no positive case of Anti-HBc, HBeAg and Anti-HBe in newborn infants, but only 1 case had Anti-HBs in infant which has been belived to be vertically transmitted in the end of the 2nd trimester.
5. 11 HBsAg positive infants were born to the both HBsAg and HBe Ag positive mothers. The rest, 5 HBsAg positive infants, were born to HBsAg and Anti-HBeAg positive mothers. which were thought of high percent of the vertical transmission (62. 5%) in compared with other reports,
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