A team of U.S. researchers have written a report on the safety of using
antiviral drugs during pregnancy to prevent infection of newborns and to
safeguard the woman’s health during pregnancy. They propose a formula
that doctors can use to assess when antiviral treatment is needed during
pregnancy.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23749670
—Christine. M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
Abstract: Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B in pregnancy.
Pan CQ, Lee HM. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department
of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, New York.
The management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during pregnancy remains a
challenge and involves various aspects of maternal-fetal care. Despite
the standard immunoprophylaxis, a significant portion of infants born to
highly viremic mothers remain infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Emerging data suggest that antiviral therapy in the third trimester can
prevent immunoprophylaxis failure. To minimize fetal exposure to
antiviral agents, antiviral therapy during pregnancy should be reserved
for mothers with advanced disease or who are at risk for hepatic
decompensation. Current safety data suggest that lamivudine,
telbivudine, or tenofovir may be used during pregnancy.
However, the
timing in initiating antiviral therapy requires careful assessment of
risks and benefit. The authors provide a systematic review of the
features of HBV during pregnancy, risk factors for vertical
transmission, and evidence-based data on antiviral use during pregnancy.
They propose an algorithm to assess the need of antiviral treatment and
monitor mothers with CHB.
Semin Liver Dis. 2013 May;33(2):138-46. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1345718. Epub 2013 Jun 8.Labels: perinatal transmission, pregnancy, treatment during pregnancy