Telbivudine Therapy in HBeAg-positive Pregnant Women to Prevent Mother-to-infant Transmission of HBV

HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive pregnant women at 28-32 weeks of gestation are given with telbivudine (oral 600 mg/day) until 4 weeks after delivery. Newborn infants are administered 100-200 IU HBIG within 12 hours after birth and vaccinated against hepatitis B with yeast recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (10 µg) at 0, 1, and 6-month schedule. HBV DNA and ALT levels are measured before the use of telbivudine, at delivery, and 1-2 months after stopping the drug. HBV serological markers, including HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe are tested in infants at age of 7-12 months.