Clinical study on telbivudine in preventing mother-to-infant HBV transmission during the late pregnancy

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine in preventing mother-to-infant HBV transmission in HBV-infected pregnant women during the late pregnancy.Methods 50 pregnant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were enrolled and 25 patients were treated by telbivudine 600 mg once daily, 25 patients in the control group were not given antiviral treatment.All infants received active and passive immunization after birth.The serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in all infants were measured at 0, 6 and 12 months, respectively.The Apgar score and behavioral neurological assessment (NABA) were measured.Their growth and development were observed.Gesell were measured in the treatment group's infants.Results HBsAg-positive rate and HBV DNA positive rate in 6 month old and 12 month old infants of treatment groups were lower than those of control groups (χ2=4.35, P<0.05) .There was no significant difference in Apgar score and NABA between the two groups.The growth and intelligence of the treatment groups' infants was in the normal range.Conclusion Telbivudine appears to be effective and safe in preventing mother-to-infant HBV transmission and has no influence on infant development.