Early Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Usage to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on February 14th, 2025
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Mother-to-child transmission is the most common form of hepatitis B transmission, and the risk of transmission is higher in mothers with a high viral load. This form of transmission is currently prevented by the use of immune globulin, which binds to and neutralizes the hepatitis B virus. However, the cost and storage requirements of immune globulin pose significant challenges in resource-limited areas. A study funded by Gilead was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early tenofovir use in pregnant women with hepatitis B infection.
The clinical study was conducted in China and included 280 pregnant women with an average age of 28, all diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection. Baseline assessments revealed an average HBV DNA level of 8.2 log IU per mL and an average HBeAg titer of approximately 1300. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, starting either at the standard 24th gestational week or at an earlier 16th week. Assessment of the children at 28 weeks postpartum showed that tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was equally effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus, regardless of whether treatment began at the 16th or 24th week of pregnancy.
The clinical study was conducted in China and included 280 pregnant women with an average age of 28, all diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection. Baseline assessments revealed an average HBV DNA level of 8.2 log IU per mL and an average HBeAg titer of approximately 1300. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, starting either at the standard 24th gestational week or at an earlier 16th week. Assessment of the children at 28 weeks postpartum showed that tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was equally effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus, regardless of whether treatment began at the 16th or 24th week of pregnancy.