Outcome of the pregnant women suffering from acute viral hepatitis in Egypt

ABSTRACT

Seventy-three pregnant women with symptoms and signs of acute viral hepatitis were included in this study. Out of these patients, 36 pregnant women and their newborns could be followed up to two months after labor. All pregnant women were subjected to clinical history and examinations, obstetric status and abdominal ultrasound. The mothers and their babies were clinically followed and HAV IgM, HBsAg, HBcAb, HBcIgM, HBeAg and Ab, delta IgM, HCV Ab, HEV IgG, CMV IgM and EBV IgM were done. The symptoms and signs in pregnant women were similar as in the nonpregnant ones. Pregnancy is not a risk factor for acute viral hepatitis, but the latter may complicate the clinical course of pregnancy. The clinical course of pregnant women was benign in 97.2% and acute fulminant hepatitis was in one case with a morbidity rate of 2.8%. These pregnant women delivered 39 newborns [with three twins]; out of them, five newborns had positive seromarkers as HAV IgM, HBsAg, IE3cIgM, HCV Ab and CMV IgM. Only two newborns were positive HBsAg due to vertical transmission. The vaccination of newborn to positive HBV mother is essential. PCR was recommended for the diagnosis of acute cases with negative seromarkers