A Study of Hepatitis E in Pregnancy: Maternal and Fetal Outcome.

Abstract

HEV infection, a major public health concern, is known to cause large-scale epidemic and sporadic cases of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries. The infection occurs primarily in young adults and is generally mild and self-limiting; however, the case fatality rate is reportedly higher among women, especially during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. This study, a prospective observational study, was conducted at the Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Apple Saraswati Multispeciality hospital, in Kolhapur for over a period of 3years (Jan 2010 to Jan 2013) to find out the prevalence and clinical outcome in a series of HEV-infected pregnant women. A total of fifty-five symptomatic Anti-HEV IgM-positive women were included, and the maternal-fetal outcome was analyzed. The maternal mortality was 5% including one antenatal death. Prematurity (80%) and PROM (11%) were the commonest fetal complications noted with a vertical transmission rate of 28%. Variations in maternal morbidity and mortality between different studies indicate a need to subtype the viral genotype according to its virulence and morbidity.