Publication:

Acute viral Hepatitis E in antenatal women: a multicenter prospective study

Background Hepatitis E has poor prognosis in pregnancy and leads to 20-30% mortality in term cases. The Aim of the study was to observe the trend of maternal and perinatal outcome in acute viral hepatitis E.

Methods A prospective study conducted in two high risk obstetric center of Jabalpur district in January 2015 to December 2017. The inclusion criteria were all antenatal women diagnosed with acute viral Hepatitis E entering to the Intensive care unit of any gestational age who later delivered in the same center. Other than acute hepatitis E all acute hepatitis cases and women missed in follow up in delivery were excluded from the study. The data collected on demographic, clinical and biochemical variables in excel sheet and descriptive analysis done by SPSS system.

Results There were 72 antenatal women enrolled with mentioned criteria in study duration. Out of these only 67 were in follow up and alive till their delivery in the same set ups. Out of these 70.14% were Primigravida of median age 27 year. The mean gestational age at detection of hepatitis E was 30.3week. The maternal mortality observed was 17.9% (12/67) in the total study population. The high grade of mortality was significantly associated with high grade of disease. There were 19.4% (13/67) perinatal (mortality seen which included intrauterine (14.9%) and neonatal (4.4%).

Conclusions The severity of Hepatitis and high grade of hepatic encephalopathy following poor primary care in the beginning of disease results in poor perinatal and maternal outcome.