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Administration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) immune globulin and HBV vaccination after birth prevents perinatal transmission of HBV 90% to 95% of the time; however, high failure rates have been reported in mothers positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) with high viral loads. Small studies suggest that tenofovir and telbivudine are both effective in further reducing the risk for perinatal HBV transmission when given during the third trimester of pregnancy. Now, investigators have conducted a large, long-term prospective study to assess the efficacy and safety of telbivudine use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to reduce HBV transmission in HBeAg-positive patients with HBV DNA level ≥106 IU/mL.
A total of 279 women received…