This material emphasizes that vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus remains a significant problem in the field of perinatal medicine, as it can lead to chronic HBV infections in newborns.
In the process of a retrospective analysis, medical data from 231 pregnant women suffering from chronic HBV infection were examined. Both serological and molecular-biological parameters were studied, as well as laboratory indicators, including the APRI index, which shows the level of liver fibrosis.
The results showed that an elevated APRI index in pregnant women is a major risk factor for the birth of HBsAg-positive infants. This underscores the need for liver fibrosis assessment to predict the likelihood of vertical transmission of the virus.
The study also confirmed the high effectiveness of combined prevention: vaccination of newborns combined with the administration of specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) provided complete protection against infection. At the same time, when only vaccination was used, the hepatitis B virus was detected in 13.1% of children.
The article notes that vertical transmission of the virus can occur at all stages of chronic HBV infection, including with low viral load. Early administration of the antiviral drug tenofovir combined with vaccination showed high effectiveness and may be an alternative to regimens using HBIG.
The author of the study concluded that the best strategy for reducing the risk of hepatitis B transmission from mother to child is a combination of antiviral therapy in the mother and specific immunoprophylaxis in the newborn.
