Hepatitis E Virus Infection During Pregnancy: The Overlooked Cause of Maternal and Fetal Mortality

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Farshadpour ◽  
Sakineh Taherkhani ◽  
Reza Taherkhani
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Fetal Mortality ◽  
Prophylactic Vaccine ◽  
Proper Treatment ◽  
Geographical Locations

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality. Nevertheless, in some geographical locations, especially Egypt, despite having high frequency of HEV seropositivity, HEV infection follows an asymptomatic or mild course during pregnancy. These anomalous observations have distracted attention from the importance of HEV infection in pregnant women. Methods: While tragic cases of HEV-infected pregnant women cannot be neglected any longer. Conclusion: These circumstances create a strong demand for the increasing awareness of HEV infection through training programs, appropriate management of HEV infection among pregnant women, routine screening of pregnant women for timely diagnosis of HEV infection, proper treatment of HEVinfected patients, optimal preventive measures, and development of a prophylactic vaccine against HEV infection.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus infection among pregnant women in Ilam, west of Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azra Kenarkoohi ◽  
Shahab Falahi ◽  
Fariba ghelijie ◽  
Asad Mirzaei
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Fetal Mortality ◽  
Seroprevalence Rate ◽  
Place Of Residence ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Igm Antibodies ◽  
Chi Square Test

Introduction:: Hepatitis E infection is commonly known as acute and self-limiting hepatitis and therefore less at-tention is paid to it, whereas hepatitis E virus is a major cause of fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women and its infection during pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal mortality. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in pregnant women in Ilam city is unknown, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of anti- HEV total and anti-HEV IgM antibodies among pregnant women in this area. Material and methods:: A total of 420 serum samples were collected between March 2018 and September 2019 from preg-nant women, with a mean age of 29.61 years ranging from 19 to 47 years, referred to Ilam health centers, west of Iran. De-mographic data including age and place of residence were collected from patient records. The titers of anti-HEV total and anti-HEV IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA method. The association between the prevalence of hepatitis E antibody and age and place of residence variables was evaluated by chi-square test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Results:: In total, 18 of the 420 participants (4.3%) were positive for anti-HEV total, while 2 (0/47%) tested positive for anti-HEV immunoglobulins M (IgM). Anti-HEV status had no statistically significant association with age and place of resi-dence. Conclusion:: The seroprevalence rate of HEV infection among pregnant women in Ilam city is relatively low. Considering that seronegative pregnant women is at risk for acquiring HEV, it is recommended that pregnant women be educated to avoid sources of HEV infection.

scholarly journals Advances in Hepatitis E Virus Biology and Pathogenesis

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Shaoli Lin ◽  
Yan-Jin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Genotype 1 ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Zoonotic Infections

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the causative agents for liver inflammation across the world. HEV is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. Human HEV strains mainly belong to four major genotypes in the genus Orthohepevirus A, family Hepeviridae. Among the four genotypes, genotype 1 and 2 are obligate human pathogens, and genotype 3 and 4 cause zoonotic infections. HEV infection with genotype 1 and 2 mainly presents as acute and self-limiting hepatitis in young adults. However, HEV infection of pregnant women with genotype 1 strains can be exacerbated to fulminant hepatitis, resulting in a high rate of case fatality. As pregnant women maintain the balance of maternal-fetal tolerance and effective immunity against invading pathogens, HEV infection with genotype 1 might dysregulate the balance and cause the adverse outcome. Furthermore, HEV infection with genotype 3 can be chronic in immunocompromised patients, with rapid progression, which has been a challenge since it was reported years ago. The virus has a complex interaction with the host cells in downregulating antiviral factors and recruiting elements to generate a conducive environment of replication. The virus-cell interactions at an early stage might determine the consequence of the infection. In this review, advances in HEV virology, viral life cycle, viral interference with the immune response, and the pathogenesis in pregnant women are discussed, and perspectives on these aspects are presented.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E and Pregnancy: An Unholy Alliance Unmasked from Kashmir, India

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1329
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sultan Khuroo
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Severe Liver ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Severe Liver Disease ◽  
Development And Management

The adverse relationship between viral hepatitis and pregnancy in developing countries had been interpreted as a reflection of retrospectively biased hospital-based data collection by the West. However, the discovery of hepatitis E virus (HEV) as the etiological agent of an epidemic of non-A, non-B hepatitis in Kashmir, and the documenting of the increased incidence and severity of hepatitis E in pregnancy via a house-to-house survey, unmasked this unholy alliance. In the Hepeviridae family, HEV-genotype (gt)1 from genus Orthohepevirus A has a unique open reading frame (ORF)4-encoded protein which enhances viral polymerase activity and viral replication. The epidemics caused by HEV-gt1, but not any other Orthohepevirus A genotype, show an adverse relationship with pregnancy in humans. The pathogenesis of the association is complex and at present not well understood. Possibly multiple factors play a role in causing severe liver disease in the pregnant women including infection and damage to the maternal-fetal interface by HEV-gt1; vertical transmission of HEV to fetus causing severe fetal/neonatal hepatitis; and combined viral and hormone related immune dysfunction of diverse nature in the pregnant women, promoting viral replication. Management is multidisciplinary and needs a close watch for the development and management of acute liver failure. (ALF). Preliminary data suggest beneficial maternal outcomes by early termination of pregnancy in patients with lower grades of encephalopathy.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in northern Lebanon

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 580-585
Author(s):  
Mohamad Bashar Ismail ◽  
Safaa Khodor ◽  
Marwan Osman ◽  
Hassan Mallat ◽  
Fouad Dabboussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E

SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS E VIRUS (HEV) INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN SOUTH INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
Nivedhitha E ◽  
Selvi R ◽  
Kayalvili KK ◽  
Arul selvan S ◽  
Duraivel M
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
South India ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Water Type ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection poses a major public health issue in countries with poor drinking water supply, inadequate rd sanitation and improper disposal of human excretes. It causes fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women during 3 trimester with a high mortality rate of 20-30%. Aim:The aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HEVinfection among pregnant women in South India. Materials and methods: Atotal of 200 asymptomatic, pregnant women were included in the study was evaluated using a questionnaire form. 5ml of blood samples were collected from them and serum was separated to detect for the presence of HEV-antibodies and HEV-RNA by ELISA test and RT-PCR test respectively. Results: The prevalence of HEV-antibodies was found to be 11.5%. HEV-RNA was not present in any participants. A very high statistical signicance was seen associated with the risk factors such as educational status, source of drinking water, type of toilet system used, and the habit of hand washing after using toilets (P<0.01). Conclusion: Even though the prevalence of HEV among the pregnant women is low, periodic assessment and screening of the pregnant women should be done. Encouraging the public sector to strictly adhere to the personal hygienic measures will denitely have an impact in the maternal as well as perinatal mortality and morbidity

scholarly journals Hepatitis E virus infection in pregnant women, Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Tissera ◽  
María Cecilia Lardizabal ◽  
Sofía Belén Torres ◽  
Anabella Clara Fantilli ◽  
Maribel G. Martínez Wassaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E

scholarly journals An observational study of maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with Hepatitis E

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 3110
Author(s):  
Ranjana Mishra ◽  
Arun H. Nayak ◽  
Madhuri Mehendale
Keyword(s):  
Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Fetal Outcome ◽  
Medical Complication ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background: Hepatitis E in pregnancy has been a subject of interest in the recent years as the available research work is very limited and conflicting especially in pregnant women as compared to infection in men and non- pregnant women in which the disease is usually self- limiting. The mechanism of liver injury in hepatitis E is not clear and no conclusive theories about the exact pathogenesis are available. This study was done to gain insight into the effects of hepatitis E virus on pregnancy in terms of maternal and fetal outcome.Methods: Total of 40 pregnant women with Hepatitis E Virus IgM antibodies was included in the study. Hepatitis cases due to other viral and non-infective causes were excluded. Maternal outcomes in terms of mode of delivery, complications like PPH, hepatic encephalopathy, fulminant hepatic failure, coagulopathy and maternal mortality was studied. Fetal outcomes in terms of intrauterine fetal deaths, stillbirth, live births, and neonatal deaths were studied.Results: This study showed high mortality rates (42.5%) in pregnant women with hepatitis E. The most common obstetric complication was IUFD (45%) followed by preterm labor (32.5%) and postpartum hemorrhage (22.5%). Hepatic encephalopathy (62.5%) was the commonest medical complication followed by coagulopathy (25%). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of medical complications and poor maternal outcome.Conclusions: Hepatitis E virus infection in pregnancy often has a fulminant course with poor maternal and fetal outcome. Its management therefore requires an early diagnosis, and a multidisciplinary approach.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document