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