EFFICACY OF ANTIVIRAL THERAPY IN HBSAG-POSITIVE PREGNANT WOMEN TO REDUCE MOTHER-TO-INFANT TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS

Introduction and objectives: the significant issue in the Pakistan is Hepatitis B. Hepatic cirrhosis and the cancer of liver can be caused by the infection of the hepatitis B. The transmission of virus of hepatitis B in blood and the products of blood is in horizontal direction. The transmission from mother to the child is in vertical direction. While transmission of the virus the chances of the occurrence of the infection of perinatal is very high which resulted in the chronic infection. The transmission of HBV1 should be prevented and it is very important. The purpose of the study is to minimize the MTCT by the utilization of antivirals. Materials and Techniques: the experiment stated in this paper is on 60 pregnant women to check the effectivity of antivirals on them to minimize the chances of MTCT. The status of hepatitis B in the child is also monitored in the experiment. The age of the selected pregnant women rangers from 18 to 43 years and their period of gestational ranges from week of 28 to 32. The test of infection in liver, HBsAg and HBeAg were carried out of them. Viral load of HBV is tested in the women who has positive test of HBeAg. The patients who has high load of viral included in the study is 60%. All the patients were divided into two sub-categories. Group 1: from 28-32 weeks of period of gestation to 1 month after the end of delivery, lamivudine 100 mg is used daily to treat 31 subjects. Group 2: from 28-32 weeks of period of gestation and upto1 month of post-partum, tenofovir 300 mg is used daily to treat 29 pregnant ladies. The vaccines of hepatitis B is given to the infant in 1st and 6th month after birth but the HBIG is given to them in 24 hours after their birth. Infectivity of HBsAg is tested in the child who is of one-year age. Findings: in the 28-week of gestational period, the chances of MTCT and occurrence of HBV in infant can be reduced by treatment with tenofovir, antivirals and immunization of infant. To prevent the MTCT in infants at a higher level, Tenofovir and drug of category B should be used. Keywords: Viral load, MTCT, Lamivudine, HBV, Tenofovir