Evaluation of Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem around the globe in spite of the availability of a highly effective vaccine and improvements in antiviral therapy. This disease causes a chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients and methods:The cross sectional study consisted from 40 healthy pregnant females referred to privet clinic for primary health care for pregnant women in Baghdad from September 2010-to May 2011.Their bloods were analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen, anti hepatitis core antibodies, anti hepatitis B envelope antibodies and anti hepatitis C antibodies by Immunochromatographic test (Acon-USA) . The results were compared to twenty non pregnant healthy control groups. Results: There was no significance difference between two groups regarding different parameters of HBV and HCV. Conclusions: Pregnancy had no effect on the frequencies of hepatitis B and C. The majority of healthy individuals either pregnant or not pregnant were positive for anti HBc antibodies that denote a past history of transient of HBV infection in episomal form.

Asian Pacific association for the study of liver (APASL) guidelines: hepatitis B virus in pregnancy

“…In Iraq, a case-control study done in Baghdad on 40 pregnant females visiting private-sector hospital in 2010-2011 showed HBsAg to be 5% [28]. However, another study done in primary health centers on 6975 pregnant females in 2016-2017 found HBsAg prevalence to be 0.13% [29].…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B (HBsAg) Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

“…Infection due to Hepatitis B virus is a serious public health problem worldwide, in spite of the availability of a highly potent vaccine and upgrade in antiviral therapy [1].…”

“…Despite the arrival of anti-viral therapies that can conquer HBV and delay advancement of liver disease, most people with chronic HBV infection live in developing countries where these drugs are neither cheap nor accessible, the incidence of HBV-related HCC cases is projected to increase for at least two decades due to the high prevalence of chronic HBV infection throughout the world [9]. HBV is mostly contracted at birth and early childhood [8], it is transmitted vertically from infected mother to child during delivery and horizontally through sexual intercourse [1]. Vertical transmission from an infected mother to her baby is common through the placenta, about 90% get infected during the prenatal period [10].…”