Management of liver dysfunction during pregancy and postpartum in pregnant women who are chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

The reports of liver dysfunction during pregnancy or postpartum have gradually increased in pregnant women who are chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), but there is no consensus on when to intervene and how to deal with it. This article reviewed recent literature reports and found that pregnant women who are chronic carriers of HBV, regardless of intervention of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs), have a certain proportion of hepatitis flares or severe disease during pregnancy and postpartum, suggesting that postpartum drug withdrawal is not always safe, and close follow-up is required. Furthermore, it recommends that treatment should be in accordance to the gestational weeks and ALT levels. NAs are the main treatment choice in the onset of hepatitis flares during pregnancy, however, postpartum hepatitis flares requires NAs or interferon therapy, and it have been reported that combination of NAs and interferon might achieve higher therapeutic response.