Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis in pregnancy: outcome and possible transmission to the offspring

R Wejstål1, G Norkrans

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Göteborg, Ostra Hospital, Sweden.

11 women with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) were studied during 14 pregnancies. All women remained well, without signs of deterioration of liver function. On the contrary, serum transaminase levels were significantly lower in the latter part of the pregnancy compared to before and after. 12 children were born at full term. One child was born preterm and 1 child was stillborn after 36 gestational weeks. During follow-up, 8 of the children had elevated alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels in serum at least at one sampling occasion. Four children had ALT elevation in consecutive blood samples, 2 of whom had a longlasting ALT elevation, probably due to mother-to-infant transmission of NANBH virus(es).

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