While there are currently no mandatory recommendations for pregnant women to undergo hepatitis D virus (HDV) screening, a pregnant woman with chronic hepatitis B, like yourself, should consider it. HDV only appears in individuals already infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Co-infection with HBV and HDV is a chronic viral hepatitis that tends to progress more severely than HBV infection alone.

If not detected and monitored promptly, individuals with HBV-HDV co-infection face a high risk of early cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. According to recommendations, people with chronic HBV should be tested for HDV at least once. This is especially important when liver enzymes are persistently elevated without clear cause, or if liver damage progresses rapidly. Testing facilitates early detection of co-infection, even before obvious symptoms appear.

Patients undergo blood tests to detect hepatitis D virus. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Beyond considering HDV testing, pregnant women with chronic HBV must undergo all important tests during pregnancy. These include liver enzymes, HBV viral load, and other indicators assessing liver function. These tests help doctors determine the virus's activity level and the risk of mother-to-child transmission. In some cases with a high HBV viral load, pregnant women may receive prophylactic antiviral treatment to reduce the risk of infection for the baby.

Hepatitis D virus is not a genetic disease; its transmission routes are similar to HBV, including mother-to-child transmission. Most women infected with HBV can still have safe pregnancies and deliveries if properly monitored and prevented. Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B virus need to receive antiserum and a full course of vaccine immediately after birth to reduce the risk of transmission.

You should discuss directly with a Gastroenterology specialist or Obstetrician monitoring your pregnancy to receive appropriate testing recommendations for your specific condition.

Master of Science. Doctor Pham Khac Khiem

Department of Gastroenterology - Hepatobiliary - Pancreatic

Tam Anh Cau Giay General Clinic