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Prevent transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child in endemic areas with appropriate screening, antiviral therapy and vaccination

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Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a significant contributor to the prevalence of HBV in endemic regions. Universal screening helps identify pregnant women with chronic HBV whose infants need immunoprophylaxis with the HBV vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin, as well as women with active or advanced disease who may require treatment with pregnancy category B antivirals (e.g. tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or telbivudine) in the first trimester. Immunoprophylaxis failure remains high in mothers with high viral load, therefore antiviral therapy in the third trimester with pregnancy category B agents is recommended.

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    The article was adapted from Paediatric Drugs 2017;19(3):173–181 [1] by employees of Adis/Springer and was not supported by any external funding.

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    Adis Medical Writers. Prevent transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child in endemic areas with appropriate screening, antiviral therapy and vaccination. Drugs Ther Perspect 33, 478–483 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-017-0438-2

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