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Acute viral hepatitis in pregnancy
Author(s) -
Medhat A.,
ElSharkawy M.M.,
Shaaban M.M.,
Makhlouf M.M.,
Ghaneima S.E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/0020-7292(93)90768-r
Subject(s) - medicine , viral hepatitis , pregnancy , obstetrics , abortion , hepatitis , fetus , hepatitis b , hepatitis a , hepatitis e , immunology , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , gene , genotype , biology
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical outcome of pregnancy and vertical transmission of acute viral hepatitis in pregnancy. METHODS: Forty‐eight pregnant patients with acute viral hepatitis were evaluated clinically and by abdominal ultrasonography. Serological studies for hepatitis markers were performed using radioimmunoassay. The results were evaluated using Student's t‐test and tests of proportion. RESULT: Thirty‐five (72.9%) delivered live birth babies at term, while 13 (27.1%) had fetal complications and/or losses. The percentage of fetal complications and/or losses was higher in patients who had non‐A, non‐B hepatitis (30.8%) than those who had type B hepatitis (25%). The most common fetal complication was premature delivery (14.9%) followed by stillbirth and abortion (8.3%) for each. The overall percentage of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus was 2 out of 27 (7.4%). CONCLUSION: Acute viral hepatitis carries a high risk for both mother and fetus. Routine vaccination of all susceptible women and babies against hepatitis B is recommended in endemic areas.