[Assisted reproductive techniques in hepatitis B or C infection: role of the hepatologist]

In medical centres practising Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) with viral risk, in more than 25% of the couples, one of them at least presents with a chronic hepatitis related to the VHC or the VHB. The rules for good clinical and biological practices value the multifunctional consultation and include the hepatologist in the medical coverage. The mission of the hepatologist would be to evaluate the severity of the infection, explain the actual knowledge statement on Assisted Reproductive Techniques risk, prevent the viral transmission among/to the couple and to the embryo and propose a coverage of the mother during the pregnancy and afterwards or to the infected partner. Nevertheless, the antiviral treatment of the man or the woman before the ART or during the pregnancy remains exceptional. When the partner is infected by a viral infection B, the efficiency of the vaccine on the woman before ART and the serovaccination of the newly born child are part of the classic recommendations and strongly advised. Breast feeding will not be advised except when the woman is under an antiviral treatment. Despite the precautionary measures here above judged optimal, many situations in the French decree have not been considered and different orders regarding the good practices on Assisted Reproductive Techniques presenting viral risk deserve thoughtful consideration: the infecting intragenomic power of the VHB, the co-infection by the delta virus, the re-evaluation of the health measures in case of a concomitant infection by the HIV.