Hepatitis B in Pregnancy
Hepatitis B in Pregnancy
For treatment-naĂ¯ve patients with normal transaminases and low levels of viremia, continued monitoring without treatment until after delivery is the best option. Liver enzyme levels and hepatitis B viremia should be measured every 2 to 3 months during pregnancy because reactivation of viral hepatitis may occur. Should the viral load exceed 10 copies per milliliter (>200,000 IU/mL) by the end of the second trimester, treatment may be considered to decrease the risk of transmission to the child.
For patients already receiving antiviral therapy when they become pregnant, the decision to continue or stop treatment during pregnancy should be individualized, taking into account the severity of the mother's hepatitis and the relative lack of safety information regarding the use of antiviral drugs during early pregnancy.
Management of the Patient With HBV who Becomes Pregnant
For treatment-naĂ¯ve patients with normal transaminases and low levels of viremia, continued monitoring without treatment until after delivery is the best option. Liver enzyme levels and hepatitis B viremia should be measured every 2 to 3 months during pregnancy because reactivation of viral hepatitis may occur. Should the viral load exceed 10 copies per milliliter (>200,000 IU/mL) by the end of the second trimester, treatment may be considered to decrease the risk of transmission to the child.
For patients already receiving antiviral therapy when they become pregnant, the decision to continue or stop treatment during pregnancy should be individualized, taking into account the severity of the mother's hepatitis and the relative lack of safety information regarding the use of antiviral drugs during early pregnancy.
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