Abstract: AIM: To observe the effects and security of telbivudine preventing intrauterine infection from hepatitis B virus. METHODS: 48 pregnant women with HBsAg, HBeAg positive and serum levels of HBV DNA were more than 10⁵ copies per milliliter in our hospital from January 2008 to May 2009 were divided into treatment group (22 cases), who began to take telbivudine, 600 mg per day at 28th week after pregnancy and stopped after childbirth, and control group(26 cases), who did not take telbivudine. The liver functions, serum markers of hepatitis B virus and HBV DNA of two groups were measured on 28th week of pregnancy before taking telbivudine, before childbirth and 1 month after childbirth. The neonatal were all given intramuscular 200 IU of HBIG and 10 μg of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. RESULTS: Two newborns of 22 cases in treatment group were with positive HBsAg when they were born, but the levels of blood HBV DNA were all less than 1000 copies per milliliter. While 10 newborns of 26 cases in control group were with positive HBsAg, and the levels of blood HBV DNA were more than 1000 copies per milliliter in 4 newborns. The difference of the intrauterine infection rate was significantly between the two groups(P<0.05). The pregnant women in two groups were all with positive HBsAg and HBeAg before childbirth,but the serum levels of HBV DNA in treatment group were lower before childbirth than before treatment(P<0.05). No adverse reactions were found on the pregnant women and newborns in the two groups. The levels of HBV DNA were restored to the levels of before treatment. CONCLUSION: Telbivudine can reduce intrauterine infection rate in pregnant women with hepatitis B virus effectively and safely.

Key words: Telbivudine, Hepatitis B virus, Intrauterine infection