Effect of Lamivudine Treatment in the Third Trimester in Hepatitis B Positive Pregnant Women in Decreasing the Viral Load and Subsequent Foetal Transmission

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B infection is most commonly acquired through perinatal or horizontal transmission. The combined immunity of hepatitis B vaccine and high-titre hepatitis B immunoglobulin HBIG has excellent efficacies in blocking the maternal-foetal transmission of hepatitis B virus. This study was aimed to stop such transmission from mothers with high hepatitis B virus DNA viral loads by giving them lamivudine antenatally. The aim of the study is to study the effect of lamivudine treatment to decrease hepatitis B virus DNA viral load in the third trimester in hepatitis B surface antigen pregnant positive women and its effect on vertical transmission of hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS The hepatitis B surface antigen positive pregnant women attending the department who satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected for this prospective case-control study of 30 in each group. Hepatitis B viral DNA load was seen at 28 weeks in both groups and lamivudine started at 32 weeks in the case group. Both groups were followed up antenatally, intrapartum and postpartum till 1 month and babies till 6 months. DNA viral load 1 month postpartum for the mother and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity observed in the babies till the age of 6months.