title: Pegylated interferon therapy during early pregnancy for hepatitis B infection: does it prevent vertical transmission?
abstract: In general, interferon (IFN) is avoided during pregnancy due to the possibility of fetal side effects. We, herein, reported two child-bearing women with chronic hepatitis B (HB) infection who used pegylated interferon alfa 2b (PEG IFNα 2b) in first trimester unintentionally. We compared HB contracting rates of gestations in which IFN was used and not used. The cases are unique in that they could highlight the importance of IFN use in early gestation for preventing vertical transmission particularly if combined with antiviral therapy for the rest of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Paediatrics , Faculty of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University , Bolu , Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Atasoy
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, Osmangazi University , Eskisehir , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirmatel
authors.affiliation: c Department of Infectious Diseases , Faculty of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University , Bolu , Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sirmatel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: Hepatitis B; infection; peginterferon alfa 2b; pregnancy outcome