Maternal Therapy With TAF Versus TDF to Prevent Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B

Immunoprophylaxis failure of hepatitis B (HBV) remains a concern and has been reported in approximately 10-30% of infants born to highly viremic mothers with HBeAg-positive. Maternal HBV DNA \>6log10 copies/mL (or 200,000 IU/mL) is the major independent risk for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Two recent random controlled trial (RCT) studies have shown that the use of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) in highly viremic HBsAg positive mothers may safely reduce the rate of MTCT when compared between groups of TDF treated and untreated patients. Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) is the successor to TDF, and both drugs have a similar mechanism of action to reduce HBV DNA levels and normalize serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB) with few adverse effects. TAF however, has a better safety profile with less adverse effects to bone mineral density and renal function. The present prospective, double-arm study is to evaluate the non-inferiority in the efficacy and safety of TAF therapy versus TDF therapy in highly viremic mothers and their infants for the prevention of MTCT in the real world setting.