Acute viral hepatitis in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Total 91 pregnant women with AVH were admitted in Medical Unit II, Nishtar Hospital, Multan from January 1987 to December 1991. Incidence of female AVH patients was 22.3%, while hospital-based frequency was1 3540. Mean age was 27.5 +/- 5.01 in pregnant women in contrast to 43.07 +/- 15.43 years in non-pregnant females. Younger age, short hospital stay brief illness, high temperature, high serum bilirubin, high serum ALT, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia [all with P<0.0001], high serum phosphatase [P<0.001], and small liver [P<0.01], were significantly more requent in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. Bleeding from GIT [P<0.001] and ascites [P<0.001] were significantly more common in non-pregnant patients. While higher death rate, prolonged prothrombin time and hepatic encephalopathy [all with P<0.0001] were more frequently noted in pregnant AVH patients. The death rate in pregnant AVH patients was 58.24% in contrast to 9.15% in non-pregnant AVH patients. Out of pregnant AVH patients pregnancy was associated with 68% death rate and abortion / delivery was associated with 32% death rate. Poor prognosis was associated with short hospital stay [P<0.01], small liver [P<0.02], HBsAg positive [P<0.02], high serum alkaline phosphatase [P<0.001], pregnant AVH patients