Tenofovir Alafenamide Therapy Throughout Pregnancy in Mothers With Hepatitis B

Abstract

BackgroundMothers with chronic hepatitis B and advanced fibrosis may require antiviral therapy throughout pregnancy. Current guidelines recommend tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), which is unsuitable for mothers at risk of renal dysfunction or decreased bone mineral density.AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the safety of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) therapy during pregnancy.MethodsMothers with chronic hepatitis B treated with TAF or no therapy were retrospectively enrolled and categorised into three groups: (A) TAF‐first trimester, (B) TAF‐late trimester and (C) no treatment. Propensity score matching was applied to create comparable groups. Primary assessments included serious adverse events up to postpartum week 28, while secondary assessments examined predictors of such events and vertical transmission rates.ResultsAmong 284 mothers, 160 were selected. No significant differences were observed in foetal loss, low birth weight, preterm delivery or congenital abnormalities between groups A and B, or between groups A and C. Other adverse events were similar across groups, except for a higher incidence of gestational diabetes in the TAF‐first trimester group. In vitro fertilisation was identified as the sole predictor of serious events. No infants were reported with hepatitis B virus infection at 28 weeks postpartum.ConclusionsThis study suggests that TAF treatment throughout pregnancy is safe for mothers with chronic hepatitis B and their infants. TAF therapy represents a viable treatment option for these mothers.