CHRONIC HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN PREGNANCY: STRATEGIES OF ANTIVIRAL THERAPY

Abstract

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B during pregnancy is an extremely complicated issue. Despite implementation of immune prophylaxis, a significant proportion of babies born by mothers with high viral load are infected by hepatitis B virus. Cumulative data suggest that antiviral therapy in the 3 trimester of pregnancy is an effective intervention in the event of unsuccessful immune prord phylaxis. To minimize fetal effects of nucleoside and nucleotide analogues, antiviral therapy during pregnancy should be administered to mothers with high risk of disease progression and/or uncontrolled hepatitis B virus infection. The safety data obtained indicate that telbivudine and tenofovir can be used during pregnancy. Nevertheless, antiviral therapy requires a thorough assessment of the risk to benefit ratio.

Keywords

• chronic hepatitis в
• pregnancy
• hbeag
• nucleotide and nucleoside analogues
• antiviral therapy
• immune prophylaxis
• fetal effects