[Acute hepatitis A in pregnancy: a report of 43 cases]

Forty-three cases of pregnancy associated with acute hepatitis treated in our hospital from February to June 1988 were analysed. Eighteen cases got hepatitis A in the second trimester and 25 cases in the third trimester. All the patients had symptoms and signs of hepatitis, increased level of serum glutamine pyruvic transaminase and the diagnosis was confirmed by antihepatitis A virus IgM (anti HAV-IgM) assay. 1-3 of markers HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were positive in 31 cases, accounting for 72% of them. 23 cases (77%) were delivered vaginally and 10 cases (23%) by cesarean section. 42 newborn infants survived and one fetus died in utero. Perinatal mortality rate was 23 per thousand. 24 newborn infants were tested for anti-HAV-IgM within 24 hours after birth and 10 cases (23.8%) at the age of one month and all babies gave negative result. Our study indicated that HAV does not seem to be transmittable from mother to the newborn.