Prevention of Hepatitis B Vertical Transmission: Focus on Antenatal Antiviral Administration

Abstract

Hepatitis B is one of the main cause of chronic liver disease, and potentially cause cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma in 15-40% population. Globally, 2 billion people are infected by Hepatitis B. Two hundred and forty million people are suffering from chronic hepatitis B, and more than 780 000 people are dying from both acute and chronic complication of hepatitis B. In developed countries, horizontal transmission is the main mode of virus transmission, while in developing countries vertical transmission occured in 90% population with hepatitis B. Immunoglobulin administration as a prevention strategy for vertical transmission has 95% success rate, but it left 5-10% of those who has immunoprophylaxis failure to be at risk to develop chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral administration during pregnancy is considered to prevent hepatitis B vertical transmission in population at risk on developing immunoprophylaxis failure.

Keywords

• hepatitis B
• immunoprophylaxis failure
• nucleos(t)ide analog
• vertical transmission