Presence of hepatitis B virus in oocytes and embryos: a risk of hepatitis B virus transmission during in vitro fertilization

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http://www.fertstert.org/article/PIIS0015028210029869/abstract?rss=yes

Fertility and Sterility

Article in Press

Presence of hepatitis B virus in oocytes and embryos: a risk of hepatitis B

virus transmission during in vitro fertilization

Rui Nie, M.Med., Jin Lei, Ph.D., Hanwang Zhang, Ph.D., Bei Xu, Ph.D., Wen Chen,

Ph.D., Guijin Zhu, M.Med.

Affiliations Reprint requests: Guijin Zhu, M.Med., Reproductive Medicine Center,

Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and

Technology, 1095 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, People’s Republic of China.

Received 29 September 2010; received in revised form 15 December 2010; accepted

16 December 2010. published online 27 January 2011.

Corrected Proof

ABSTRACT

Objective

To define the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission through oocytes and

embryos from chronic HBV carriers.

Design

Laboratory-based study.

Setting

Research laboratory in a university hospital.

Patient(s)

Thirty-one couples with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative women and

HBsAg-positive men, 41 couples with HBsAg-positive women and HBsAg-negative men,

and 39 seronegative couples.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Hepatitis B virus DNA and RNA analyses in oocytes and embryos, and the location

of virus particles containing HBsAgs.

Result(s)

Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 3 of 18 male HBsAg-positive/female

HBsAg-negative couples (and in 13 of 84 embryos) and 3 of 14 male

HBsAg-negative/female HBsAg-positive couples (and in 15 of 71 oocytes and

embryos). Hepatitis B virus RNA was detected in 9 of 13 male

HBsAg-positive/female HBsAg-negative couples (and in 39 of 52 embryos) and 8 of

17 male HBsAg-negative/female HBsAg-positive couples (and in 30 of 63 oocytes

and embryos). The HBsAg, which is present in the nuclei and cytoplasm of oocytes

and embryos, was detected in 6 of 10 male HBsAg-negative/female HBsAg-positive

couples (and in 13 of 20 oocytes and embryos). Hepatitis B virus DNA, HBV RNA,

and HBsAg were not found in 135 oocytes and embryos from 39 seronegative

couples.

Conclusion(s)

The presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos suggests the possibility of vertical

transmission of HBV via the germ line.