Frequency and Outcome of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women at Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective:-To determine the frequency of Hepatitis C virus infection and maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with Hepatitis C virus infection. Materials and Methods:This descriptive case series study was conducted in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi for a period of six months from 17-02-2015 to 18-08-2015. A total of 202 pregnant women of any parity and gestational age after 24 weeks were selected in this study. After taking history and examination, 5ml of blood was drawn from the peripheral vein from each patient and serum was tested for the presence of Anti-HCV antibodies in all patients using a third generation ELIZA test in diagnostic laboratory. All data was collected in pre-approved proforma. Results: The frequency of hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant women was observed in 15.35% (31/202) cases. The average age of the patients was 27.35±4.66 years. The most common obstetrical complication in women with hepatitis C virus infection was jaundice 77.4% (24/31) followed by preterm delivery 35.5% (11/31), LBW 32.3% (10/31), placenta previa 25.8% (8/31), premature birth 19.4% (6/31), intra uterine death 19.4% (6/31), hepatic encephlopathy 9.7% (3/31) and maternal death 9.7% (3/31). Rate of jaundice, preterm birth, premature birth, intra uterine death and low birth weight was also significantly high in those pregnant women who were HCV positive. Conclusion: HCV positivity may be a surrogate marker for increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes and the HCV-positive pregnant population may require greater clinical vigilance in this regard.