Viral Hepatitis in Pregnancy: An Update on Screening, Diagnosis, and Management

Abstract

Viral hepatitis in pregnancy is common; accordingly, there is a need for evolved best practices in the approach to treatment of this special population. 1 Historically, the major limitation to standardization of evaluation and management of pregnant patients with viral hepatitis had been the availability of high-quality evidence and consensus expert opinion. In this article, we review the updated evidence for the screening, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic viral hepatitis in pregnancy.Viral hepatitis in pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy-related complications, as well as the risks associated with acute and chronic liver disease for both the mother and the infant as a result of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) (Table 1). 1 A comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to the management of viral hepatitis in pregnancy is necessary to reduce morbidity, mortality, and need for liver transplantation. This methodology involves early identification by screening, use of prevention techniques, encouragement of safe breastfeeding, treatment of infection, and immunoprophylaxis (Tables 1 and 2). HePaTiTis a virUsHepatitis A virus (HAV) typically has minimal impact on pregnancy. Testing in acute illness includes serum anti-HAV

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Pregnant Women at Jiblah University Hospital in Jiblah City, Yemen

“…HBV can be transmitted via contact with blood or bodily fluids like saliva, vaginal fluid, and semen 3 and has a high rate of vertical transmission causing fetal and neonatal hepatitis 8 . Vertical HBV transmission occurs if the mother has had acute HBV infection and most often occurs during the intrapartum period at the time of delivery 9 . Moreover, about 90% of infants born to mothers testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) or e antigens (HBeAg( will develop chronic infection which further develops to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in young adulthood, posing a significant global public health challenge 10 .…”