Journal of Neonatal Biology

Effect of neonatal immunization on vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus infection

20^th International Conference on Neonatology and Perinatology

December 04-06, 2017 | Madrid, Spain

Terence T Lao

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Keynote: J Neonatal Biol

Abstract:

Vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered the major factor in maintinaing the high prevalence of HBV infection in endemic areas, and combined passive-active immunization has been introduced for more than three decades to prevent vertical transmission. Recently, maternal treatment with antiviral agents has been advocated to prevent vertical transmission, but no randomized studies have compared the efficacy of maternal antenatal treatment alone versus neonatal hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) injection alone in this regard. The safety of in-utero expsoure to antiviral agents to the long term health and development in the offspring is largely unknown, and the limited literature on maternal treatment appears to be associated with increased maternal postpartum flares and possibly adverse perinatal outcome. In the literature and in our experience, neonatal HBIg is safe and effective in preventing vertical transmission, and the relevant data will be presented. The pros and cons of maternal treatment in addition to the already implemented and established neonatal immunization for the sole purpose of preventing vertical transmission will be discussed, together with the implications on logistical and clinical management of pregnancy in women with chronic HBV infection.

Biography :

Terence T Lao graduated MBBS from the University of Hong Kong, and obtained his MD in 2002. He received training in Obstetric Medicine at the Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital, London, UK in 1983-1984, and completed the fellowship programme in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1989-93. He is Professor at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has published 300+ papers in international journals and is a reviewer for 24 journals, and serves on the editorial board of three international journals. His major interest is in maternal medicine and high risk pregnancy.