A retrospective study of maternal and fetal outcome of viral hepatitis in pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the cause, course of the condition in pregnancy, maternal and fetal outcome in diagnosed cases of viral hepatitis in pregnancy. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted and 114 numbers of pregnant women were found to be infected with hepatitis. Women were enrolled in the study after confirmation by performing the viral profile. The hematological and biochemical data were collected from the data base. Results: The prevalence of pregnant women infected with hepatitis in pregnancy was found to be 0.67% (114/16886). It was found that women in the age group of 21 to 30 had the highest prevalence (80) 70.1%. Most of the women were primigravida (65) 57.01% and detected predominantly in the first trimester. Maternal complications associated with the condition included abruption 4 (3.5%), coagulation dysfunction (8) 7.01% and encephalopathy (3) 2.6%. Maternal mortality was noted in (2) 1.7% of the women and was highly significant in women with features of encephalopathy, high bilirubin levels, high liver enzymes and prolonged prothrombin time. Perinatal mortality was noted in 7 (6.1%) and the main cause is attributed to preterm and low birth weight. Conclusions: Hepatitis is a condition, which turns to a very dreaded state as the pregnancy progresses. When associated or superimposed with conditions such as gestation hypertension it makes it even difficult to manage and accelerates the complications due to liver failure.

Keywords

• hepatitis b virus
• pregnancy
• maternal and fetal prognosis
• hepatocellular carcinoma