In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer does not increase the risk of mother-to-infant transmission of Hepatitis B
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
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Posted on November 18th, 2022
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For in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), maternal oocytes are retrieved and fertilized in vitro before implantation to the uterus. Thus, embryos can potentially be infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carried by the infected mother. A recently published study had reported on the likelihood of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV in women that had become pregnant using IVF-ET.
The retrospective study includes 298 women who became pregnant using IVF-ET; 224 of which have been diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis B infection (CHB), and the remaining are HBsAg-negative (control). A total of 375 infants were born from these mothers, and there were zero cases of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B virus detected in both the CHB and control groups. The study also reported that there is no significant difference in birth weight, infant length, APGAR score, length of pregnancy, and neonatal malformation rate between the CHB and control groups. In addition, IVF-ET does not increase the risk of most complications, but the study observed that the rate of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and premature membrane eruption is higher in the control group. Nonetheless, the researchers did not comment on this elevation in frequency - possibly because the degree of elevated risk is not concerning. Thus, the study concluded that the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer process does not increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the Hepatitis B virus, but the reason behind this absence of contamination is unknown.
The retrospective study includes 298 women who became pregnant using IVF-ET; 224 of which have been diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis B infection (CHB), and the remaining are HBsAg-negative (control). A total of 375 infants were born from these mothers, and there were zero cases of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B virus detected in both the CHB and control groups. The study also reported that there is no significant difference in birth weight, infant length, APGAR score, length of pregnancy, and neonatal malformation rate between the CHB and control groups. In addition, IVF-ET does not increase the risk of most complications, but the study observed that the rate of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and premature membrane eruption is higher in the control group. Nonetheless, the researchers did not comment on this elevation in frequency - possibly because the degree of elevated risk is not concerning. Thus, the study concluded that the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer process does not increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the Hepatitis B virus, but the reason behind this absence of contamination is unknown.