Maternal and Perinatal Outcome of Pregnancy with Hepatitis E Infection

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To see the prevalence of HEV infection in the cases of acute hepatitis among pregnant women, and maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancy complicated by HEV infection. Methods This was a descriptive study done at two tertiary care hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal between July 2006 and June 2007. Women presenting with acute hepatitis were tested for HEV using commercial rapid HEV test kit (assure HEV IgM Rapid test by MP diagnostics). Pregnant women, who tested positive for HEV, were enrolled as study group. Maternal and perinatal outcome of these women were analyzed. Results Ninety-three pregnant women with acute hepatitis due to HEV were admitted during the study period. Of these 93 cases, acute liver failure occurred in 24 (25.8%), acute renal failure in eight (8.6%) and maternal mortality occurred in 18 (19.35 %). Five women (5.4%) had miscarriage and 79 delivered (53 preterm and 26 term). Pregnancy continued in nine. Perinatal mortality occurred in 16 (20.2%) of which nine were still birth and seven neonatal deaths. Conclusion Hepatitis E virus infection is a major cause of acute hepatitis in pregnant women with adverse maternal and perinatal outcome.