Hepatitis B in pregnancy.

Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus can result in the development of serious liver disease such as chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vertical transmission from infected mothers to infants is thought to be partially responsible for the high prevalence of infection in certain high-risk groups. Immunoprophylaxis using hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis immune globulin has been highly effective in decreasing the probability of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in infants with exposure. Previously, the Centers for Disease Control recommended screening pregnant women considered at high risk of hepatitis B infection to detect newborns who would benefit from postnatal immunizations directed at preventing the HBV carrier state. Because of the poor sensitivity of high-risk criteria in distinguishing pregnant women who harbor the hepatitis B virus, these recommendations have recently been revised to call for the routine screening of all pregnant women in the United States.