RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Perinatal transmission is the main route of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. While several measures have been attempted as means of preventing perinatal HBV transmission, the optimal strategy remains inconclusive. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search, through December 2016, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the following measures among pregnant women with HBV infection: placebo/none, active immunoprophylaxis (hepatitis B vaccine series starting at birth [HBVac]), passive-active immunoprophylaxis (hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine [HBIG+HBVac]), prenatal HBIG administration (HBIG/HBIG+HBVac), and prenatal antiviral therapy (AVT/HBIG+HBVac). Direct, indirect, and network meta-analyses were performed for all treatment comparisons. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs involving 2706 infants of HBV carrier mothers were eligible for analysis. Network meta-analysis demonstrated similar results as direct and indirect comparisons. HBVac alone significantly reduced the risk of hepatitis B infection in infants of HBV carrier mothers (relative risk [RR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.50). The combination of immunoglobulin with vaccine is superior to vaccine alone (RR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20-0.67). Prenatal HBIG administration and antiviral therapy offer further advantages over current passive-active immunoprophylaxis for infants of highly viremic (HBV DNA level higher than 2 × 105 IU/mL) mothers (RR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.75; and RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.99, respectively). There was no significant publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the universal infantile vaccination program, HBIG for infants born to HBV carrier mothers further reduces transmission. For highly viremic mothers whose children are still at risk for transmission under current immunoprophylaxis, prenatal HBIG administration or antiviral therapy in late pregnancy may be considered if more long-term evidence supports its efficacy and safety.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical course and perinatal transmission of chronic hepatitis B during pregnancy in a real life setting. METHODS: A total of 221 singleton pregnant women with detectable HBV-DNA levels (≥103 copies/mL) were enrolled during January 2011 to June 2015. Forty-three high viraemic patients (≥106 copies/mL) received telbivudine in the 2nd or 3rd trimester according to their intention, while 89 high viraemic and 79 low viraemic (≥103 and <106 copies/mL) patients were the control cohorts. Primary endpoint was the pregnancy outcomes and secondary endpoint the perinatal transmission including intrauterine infection, immunoprophylaxis failure and occult infection. RESULTS: In all, 209 patients completed pregnancy with 209 infants, while 2 in telbivudine-treated cohort had unexplained late stillbirths. Twenty-nine (70.7%) of telbivudine-treated patients and 3 (3.4%) of untreated high viraemic controls achieved undetectable HBV-DNA levels prior delivery. At 7 months postpartum, immunoprophylaxis failure was significantly lower (2.4%) in telbivudine-treated cohort, compared with 16.9% and 10.1% in untreated high and low viraemic cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Low viraemic patients may also need antiviral therapy since they bear moderate risk for perinatal transmission of HBV. However, more multicenter, large-scale studies are required before antepartum antiviral therapy is routinely recommended in patients with detectable viral loads.