Viral hepatitis and pregnancy in Kuwait

The frequency and severity of viral hepatitis among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Kuwait was studied from 1980 to 1984. 542 female hepatitis patients were investigated, of whom 52 (9.6%) were pregnant. 35 of the 52 (67.3%) cases of viral hepatitis in pregnancy were due to hepatitis B virus while 11 of 52 (21.2%) and 6 of 52 (11.5%) had acute hepatitis non-A, non-B (NANB) and hepatitis A virus infections, respectively. The frequency and severity of viral hepatitis among the pregnant women was similar to that among non-pregnant women. Hepatitis did not have a deleterious effect on pregnancy and no death was recorded. Fulminant acute NANB hepatitis was seen in only one patient, who recovered completely.