Women with hepatitis have an increased risk for complications during pregnancy

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Women with hepatitis have an increased risk for complications during pregnancy

The latest issue of the Journal of Viral Hepatitis examines pregnancy outcomes associated with viral hepatitis.

Dr Keisha Reddick and colleagues from North Carolina, USA examined the contribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to pregnancy-related complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage and cholestasis.

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for all pregnancy-related discharges, pregnancy complications and viral hepatitis from 1995 to 2005.

The research team used logistic regression to examine the association between HBV, HCV, HBV + HCV and pregnancy-related complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, cholestasis and cesarean delivery.

Model covariates included maternal age, race, insurance status, substance use and medical complications including liver complication, hypertension, HIV, anaemia, thrombocytopenia and sexually transmitted infections.
Of 297,664 pregnant women data available for analysis, 1446 had a coded diagnosis of HBV, HCV or both. High-risk behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol and substance use were higher in women with either HBV or HCV.

The researchers found that women with HBV had an increased risk for pre-term birth but a decreased risk for caesarean delivery.

The team observed that individuals with HCV had an increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Individuals with both HBV and HCV co-infection had an increased risk for antepartum hemorrhage.

The research team found no association of viral hepatitis with intrauterine growth restriction or pre-eclampsia.

Dr Reddick's team commented, "Women with hepatitis have an increased risk for complications during pregnancy."

"Research to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of counselling patients about potential risks for adverse outcomes is warranted."

J Viral Hep 2011: 18(7): e394–e398
25 July 2011