STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FETAL AND MATERNAL OUTCOME IN ACUTE VIRAL HEPATITIS

Abstract

Acute viral hepatitis is the commonest cause of jaundice in pregnant women with clinical evidence of hepatitis with HEV being the predominant cause. Acute viral hepatitis is a systemic infection caused by six distinct types of viruses A, B, C, D, E and G. The present study was a prospective observational study done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Patna Medical College & Hospital, Patna over a 2 years period with 100 pregnant patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis. This study was conducted to know the prevalence, obstetric complications and maternal, perinatal outcome in pregnant women presenting with acute viral hepatitis. In our setup most common cause of acute viral hepatitis with adverse fetomaternal outcome was found to be with Hepatitis E .HBV was found to be the 2^rd most common etiological factor followed by HAV. Adverse fetomaternal outcome like abortion, preterm, LBW, IUGR, IUD, higher NICU admissions, coagulation derangement, PPH, hepatic encephalopathy were mostly associated with HEV infection. Acute viral hepatitis was associated with a maternal mortality of 17% mostly attributable to HEV infection. In a developing country like India, awareness of pregnant women about viral hepatitis, regular ANC care, cost effectiveness and easy accessibility to health care system and treatment plays a key role in improving the current situation.

Keywords:  Viral hepatitis, Maternal, Fetal, Pregnancy