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Review
. 2014 Jun 10:6:605-11.
doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S51138. eCollection 2014.

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus: challenges and solutions

Ivan Gentile  1 , Guglielmo Borgia  1
Affiliations
Review

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus: challenges and solutions

Ivan Gentile et al. Int J Womens Health. .

Abstract

More than 240 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Mother-to-child transmission remains the most important mechanism of infection in countries with a high prevalence of HBV. Universal screening of all pregnant women, at-birth prophylaxis with specific anti-HBV immune globulin, as well as HBV vaccination for newborns of infected mothers are effective in reducing the risk of vertical transmission. However, in cases of a high viral load and hepatitis B e antigen positivity, there is a residual risk of HBV transmission to the newborn despite prophylaxis. This review focuses on the above-indicated strategies and on the efficacy and safety of antiviral drugs administered during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Keywords: immune globulin; prophylaxis; telbuvidine; tenofovir; vaccine; viral load.

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