Effect of viral load on pregnancy outcomes in chronic hepatitis B infection

Aim This study aimed to evaluate perinatal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection based on infection status and to identify cut‐off values based on hepatitis B virus DNA viral load to predict composite adverse perinatal/neonatal outcomes. Methods Pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus who delivered at Hacettepe University between 2010 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. We included 95 patients. The patients were classified into two groups based on laboratory findings and viral load: group 1 (n = 63), immune inactive; and group 2 (n = 32), immune active. Maternal age, gravidity, parity, gestational week at birth, birth weight, 5th minute APGAR scores and composite perinatal and neonatal outcomes were compared between groups. Results Gestational week at birth, birth weight and 5th minute APGAR score in group 2 were lower than those in group 1 (P