Prevention strategies of mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

• Main Authors: Yao Hu, Hui Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020-06-01
• Series: Pediatric Investigation
• Subjects: Hepatitis B virus; Mother‐to‐child transmission; Immunization; Antiviral therapy
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/ped4.12205

ABSTRACT Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection caused by mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT, also known as vertical transmission) during the perinatal period is a major public health problem worldwide. Despite the availability of the combined active‐passive immunization with a hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin after birth, about 9% of newborns are still infected with HBV, especially those born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive mothers. Currently, the management of HBV infection during pregnancy remains controversial. This article briefly reviews the recent advances in the epidemiology of HBV, immunization against it, and management strategies in the third trimester.