Case treated with triple therapy of lamivudine, interferon-β and prednisolone for acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B during pregnancy

We herein report a case of a pregnant Chinese woman who suffered an acute exacerbation of hepatitis B. The patient's liver enzymes became elevated toward the end of the first trimester. She was treated with lamivudine, interferon (IFN)-β and steroids early in the second trimester. After this treatment regimen was initiated, aminotransferase levels rapidly normalized within 4 weeks. IFN-β and steroids were administrated for 2 weeks in the second trimester, while the administration of lamivudine continued until delivery. The spontaneous delivery of a female baby weighing 2984 g occurred at 37 weeks of gestation. A neonatal examination revealed no congenital anomalies, and fetal growth was found to be within normal reference ranges. The infant received simultaneous active and passive hepatitis B virus immunization within 12 h of delivery and completed the hepatitis B vaccine schedule at 2, 3 and 5 months of age. The infant was successfully prevented from contracting hepatitis B virus. This case suggests that combination therapy with lamivudine, IFN-β and steroids may be safely used during the second trimester to treat acute exacerbations of hepatitis B.