HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women

Introduction: Using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is recommended in the 3rd trimester for pregnant women with HBV DNA ≥ 200,000 IU/mL to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, HBV DNA quantification is unavailable in many resource-limited areas worldw...

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Main Authors: Minh Ngoc Nguyen, Thi Thu Huong Nguyen, Tran Dieu Hien Pham, Van Nghia Khuu, Quoc Cuong Hoang, Vu Thuong Nguyen, Ngoc Huu Tran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2023-10-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17516
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author Minh Ngoc Nguyen
Thi Thu Huong Nguyen
Tran Dieu Hien Pham
Van Nghia Khuu
Quoc Cuong Hoang
Vu Thuong Nguyen
Ngoc Huu Tran
author_facet Minh Ngoc Nguyen
Thi Thu Huong Nguyen
Tran Dieu Hien Pham
Van Nghia Khuu
Quoc Cuong Hoang
Vu Thuong Nguyen
Ngoc Huu Tran
author_sort Minh Ngoc Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is recommended in the 3rd trimester for pregnant women with HBV DNA ≥ 200,000 IU/mL to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, HBV DNA quantification is unavailable in many resource-limited areas worldwide, hence prophylaxis is often missed. The aim of this study was to determine whether HBeAg or qHBsAg is a better alternative to HBV DNA testing in HBV-infected pregnant women. Methodology: In this prospective cohort study, pregnant women with HBV infection were recruited in 3 hospitals from October 2019 to November 2020. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Blood samples were taken for qHBsAg and HBV DNA testing. HBeAg results were collected from the medical records of the participants who visited a doctor during the study. Results: 465 pregnant women met the study criteria. 41.9% were HBeAg positive, 33.3% had high qHBsAg levels (> 104 IU/mL), 38.3% had high HBV DNA levels (≥ 200,000 IU/mL). Pregnant women with high qHBsAg levels were 27 times more likely to have high HBV DNA levels (aOR = 27.0, 95% CI: 11.1-65.5, p < 0.001). Participants who were HBeAg positive were 57.5 times more likely to have high HBV DNA levels (aOR = 57.5, 95% CI: 23.0-140.0, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of qHBsAg and HBeAg was 80% and 94%, respectively; and specificity was 95% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions: HBeAg testing should be considered over qHBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay because of its technical simplicity, lower cost, and fewer missed treatments.
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institution OA Journals
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language English
publishDate 2023-10-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-bac13e5ebc844fa9bc3c4c15e9f90c672025-08-20T02:14:16ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802023-10-01171010.3855/jidc.17516HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant womenMinh Ngoc Nguyen0Thi Thu Huong Nguyen1Tran Dieu Hien Pham2Van Nghia Khuu3Quoc Cuong Hoang4Vu Thuong Nguyen5Ngoc Huu Tran6Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamPasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamUniversity of Medicine Pham Ngoc Thach, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamPasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCan Tho Department of Health, VietnamPasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamPasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Introduction: Using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is recommended in the 3rd trimester for pregnant women with HBV DNA ≥ 200,000 IU/mL to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, HBV DNA quantification is unavailable in many resource-limited areas worldwide, hence prophylaxis is often missed. The aim of this study was to determine whether HBeAg or qHBsAg is a better alternative to HBV DNA testing in HBV-infected pregnant women. Methodology: In this prospective cohort study, pregnant women with HBV infection were recruited in 3 hospitals from October 2019 to November 2020. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Blood samples were taken for qHBsAg and HBV DNA testing. HBeAg results were collected from the medical records of the participants who visited a doctor during the study. Results: 465 pregnant women met the study criteria. 41.9% were HBeAg positive, 33.3% had high qHBsAg levels (> 104 IU/mL), 38.3% had high HBV DNA levels (≥ 200,000 IU/mL). Pregnant women with high qHBsAg levels were 27 times more likely to have high HBV DNA levels (aOR = 27.0, 95% CI: 11.1-65.5, p < 0.001). Participants who were HBeAg positive were 57.5 times more likely to have high HBV DNA levels (aOR = 57.5, 95% CI: 23.0-140.0, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of qHBsAg and HBeAg was 80% and 94%, respectively; and specificity was 95% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions: HBeAg testing should be considered over qHBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay because of its technical simplicity, lower cost, and fewer missed treatments. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17516HBVMTCTpregnantHBeAgqHBsAgHBVDNA
spellingShingle Minh Ngoc Nguyen
Thi Thu Huong Nguyen
Tran Dieu Hien Pham
Van Nghia Khuu
Quoc Cuong Hoang
Vu Thuong Nguyen
Ngoc Huu Tran
HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
HBV
MTCT
pregnant
HBeAg
qHBsAg
HBVDNA
title HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
title_full HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
title_fullStr HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
title_full_unstemmed HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
title_short HBeAg testing is better than quantitative HBsAg assay as an alternative to HBV DNA assay among HBV-infected pregnant women
title_sort hbeag testing is better than quantitative hbsag assay as an alternative to hbv dna assay among hbv infected pregnant women
topic HBV
MTCT
pregnant
HBeAg
qHBsAg
HBVDNA
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17516
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