Efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogs on blocking father-to-infant vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus.

The aim of the present study was to observe the efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogs in inhibiting father-to-infant vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Nucleoside analogs compete with HBV DNA polymerase substrate to inhibit DNA polymerase, thus preventing the replication of HBV DNA. A case group and control group were recruited for the study. Between March 2006 and March 2012 at the Liver Disease Center of Qinhuangdao Third Hospital, a total of 201 couples were recruited for the case group. In each case, the father tested positive the following HBV markers: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibodies against the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and HBV DNA. In total, 189 male patients presented with abnormal liver function (94.0%; 189/201). Prior to pregnancy, all the males in the case group were required to test negative for HBV DNA and exhibit normal liver function, while the females were required to test positive for antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs). In total, 188 couples comprised the control group. The couples were recruited between March 2006 and March 2012 in the Prenatal Clinic of Qinhuangdao Women's and Children's Hospital. The fathers tested positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBc and HBV DNA. With regard to the females, HBsAg tests were all negative and anti-HBs tests were positive. In the case group, there were no HBsAg-positive or HBV DNA-positive newborns, while anti-HBs tests were all positive; thus, the father-to-infant HBV vertical transmission was successfully inhibited. In the control group, 147/188 newborns tested positive for anti-HBs at birth, accounting for 78.2%. In addition, 28 newborns were positive for HBV DNA (14.9%), and 19 newborns tested positive for HBsAg (10.1%). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to these parameters. However, no statistically significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, birth height, 1- and 8-min Apgar scores, presence of jaundice, other internal and surgical diseases, delivery mode and other birth information were observed when comparing the case group with the control group. Furthermore, there were no fetal malformations or stillbirths in the two groups. In the HBV DNA-positive fathers prior to pregnancy, antiretroviral therapy resulted in a reduced virus load. Therefore, blocking father-to-infant HBV vertical transmission maximally was important. The use of antiviral nucleoside analogs prior to pregnancy was shown to be safe. When the benefits outweighed the risks, the fathers who wanted to have a child continued to use antiviral therapy. However, the sample size of the present study was small, and an increased number of cases and longer follow-up times are required. In addition, the use of nucleoside analogs requires further in-depth assessment from the point of view of prenatal and postnatal care.