Objectives: Jaundice in pregnancy carries with it a high mortality rate. In this study, we examined the characteristics of women on survival of women with hepatitis E due to the stress of labor in terms of multiorgan failure after delivery. Design: A retrospective study of hospital records was done on women of hepatitis E from December 2010 to August 2011 at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. The women were divided into two groups: expired and survived. Results: Fatality rate during the epidemic months (March/ during nonepidemic months (June to February). The overall mortality rate of fulminant hepatic failure was 94%. The mean duration of jaundice, levels of bilirubin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and prothrombin time (PT) were ! altered creatinine and PT [International Normalized Ratio (INR) >1.5] had a high mortality rate of 88 and 76%, respectively. All those who were conscious at the time of delivery (no hepatic encephalopathy) survived while those who were unconscious expired after delivery. All those who were intubated died. Conclusion: Hepatitis E is endemic in India and is an important indirect cause of maternal mortality. Study of the expired group helps understand the critical levels of liver function tests. This can help in appropriate counselling of patients and their relatives regarding the prognosis. Although delivery does not have any effect on survival, blood loss, infection and raised intracranial tension can cause liver hypoxia and worsen the disease state.
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