A newborn refers to an infant from birth to under 28 days old. Many expectant mothers, especially those with hepatitis B, fear their child might be infected with the virus. Therefore, they are eager to have their newborn's hepatitis B serologic panel checked to see if the baby is infected. However, the results can be surprising because at this stage, regardless of whether the mother has hepatitis B or not, the baby's hepatitis B serologic panel will generally show some positive indicators.

wuwei

It is crucial to emphasize that a positive hepatitis B serologic panel in a newborn does not necessarily mean the child is infected with the hepatitis B virus . Under normal circumstances, antibodies from the mother - such as surface antibody (anti-HBs), e antibody (anti-HBe), and core antibody (anti-HBc), including the e antigen (HBeAg) from mothers with hepatitis B - can pass through the placenta into the umbilical cord blood . For instance, an HBeAg-positive mother can transmit HBeAg to the newborn, but this positivity usually does not last beyond 3 months . Similarly, anti-HBs, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc can all cross the placental barrier, but anti-HBe positivity typically does not persist beyond 1 year of age, and anti-HBc positivity usually clears by 2 years of age.

wuwei

The markers that most strongly indicate a true hepatitis B virus infection are the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA. Generally, these do not pass through the placenta but can be transmitted through vertical blood transmission. Therefore, even with maternal blocking measures, a small number of newborns might test positive for low levels of HBV DNA and HBsAg. However, about 90% of these infants will see their HBsAg and HBV DNA clear up and turn negative by 7 months of age. Consequently, testing newborns for HBsAg and/or HBV DNA is not recommended. If venous blood tests still detect HBsAg and/or HBV DNA positivity between 7 to 12 months of age, then the child is considered to have a chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

wuwei

Here is a reminder for all mothers with hepatitis B: if the child is indeed infected, it is essential to seek early treatment. Studies show that the younger the child, the higher the cure rate. Particularly for children under 7 years old, the chance of achieving a clinical cure is very high, so it is crucial not to miss the optimal window for antiviral therapy

wuwei

Zhang Wenhua, Chief Physician

Honorary President and Chief Expert of Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital; Director and Chief Physician of the Hepatobiliary Center, Gansu Wuwei Medical Science Institute; Executive Director and Chief Expert of the "Healthy China · Primary-Level Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Capacity Improvement Project"; National Hepatobiliary Disease Consultation Expert; Member of the Writing Group for the Chinese Expert Consensus on Clinical Practice for Functional Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B; Member of the Liver Disease Professional Committee of the China Medicine Education Association; Member of the Liver Cancer Group of the 1st Liver Disease Professional Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association; Member of the Particle Therapy Branch of the Tumor Minimally Invasive Treatment Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Vice Chairman of the Tumor Interstitial Implantation Therapy Professional Committee of the Gansu Anti-Cancer Association; Standing Member of the Cell Therapy Professional Committee of the Shaanxi Research Hospital Association; Advanced Individual in National Research Projects on Clinical Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Prevention and Control; National Excellent Public Welfare Popular Science Physician; Member of the National Collaborative Group for Tackling Key Problems in Difficult and Severe Liver Diseases; Invited Expert of the Expert Committee of the Health Appropriate Technology Branch of the National Health Industry Enterprise Management Association; Appointed Expert of the "Good Liver Doctor" on the National "Gan Dan Xiang Zhao" Public Service Platform; National "Liver Guardian Master," Standing Director of the Beijing Asia-Pacific Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Alliance; Expert of the Gansu Hepatobiliary Disease Expert Committee of the Large-Scale Public Welfare Activity "Joining Hearts · Caring for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health"; Appointed Expert of the Gansu Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center; Member of the Expert Group of the Gansu Organ Transplantation Quality Control Center; Vice President of the Wuwei Medical Association.

Hepatobiliary Center of Wuwei Medical Science Institute

List of Leading Discipline Experts

wuwei wuwei wuwei

wuwei

Wuwei Medical Science Institute Hepatobiliary Center

The Wuwei Medical Science Institute Hepatobiliary Center is currently a National Hepatobiliary Disease Prevention and Treatment Technology Demonstration Base. Comprising the First Department of Liver Diseases, Second Department of Liver Diseases, Third Department of Liver Diseases, Fourth Department of Liver Diseases, and the Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, it comprehensively conducts clinical and scientific research work in the field of hepatobiliary diseases, including liver protection, antiviral therapy, artificial liver support systems, surgical procedures, interventional therapies, minimally invasive techniques, iodine seed implantation, targeted and immune therapies, cellular immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. It is one of the few single-disease centers in China capable of perfectly achieving integrated diagnosis, treatment, and whole-process management for hepatobiliary diseases. The center undertakes multiple real-world research projects and several national public welfare projects. It has established a renowned international and domestic expert consultation platform for difficult and severe liver diseases and has also built Gansu Province's first Co-management Center for Diabetes and Liver Diseases, benefiting more patients with hepatobiliary diseases, especially those with difficult and severe conditions, as well as patients with liver-related metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease .

Cancer Hospital Central Campus (Downtown)

Chief Physician Zhang Wenhua's Outpatient Room: Room 218, 2nd Floor, Outpatient Building (Monday and Wednesday mornings, except holidays).

Department of Internal Liver Medicine Outpatient Rooms: Rooms 216, 217, 2nd Floor.

Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Outpatient Room: Room 425, 4th Floor 235.

Heavy Ion Campus:

Chief Physician Zhang Wenhua's Office: Room 2331, 3rd Floor, Building 2, Hepatobiliary Center (Tuesday morning, except holidays).

Department of Internal Liver Medicine Outpatient Rooms: Rooms W210, W211, 2nd Floor.

Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Outpatient Room: Room 126A, 1st Floor.

Other Doctors' Offices/Inpatient Area: 2nd Floor, Building 2, Hepatobiliary Center 235.

Note: Please check the latest schedule for specific outpatient arrangements, as they are subject to change.

Let us contact you

Consult