Authors: Aalia Tayyba , Hafiz Mohammed Dawood , Nusrat Manzoor , Sundus Waheed , Gul-e-Raana , Asma Saadia

Abstract

Background and Objective: Hepatitis E viral infection is one of the major health concerns in the pregnant women owing to its fulminant nature in pregnancy and contribution to increase the mortality in pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant females. So, this study was conducted with an objective to find out the pregnancy related mortality, maternal morbidity and fetal outcome suffering with hepatitis E (HEV) in pregnancy.
Methods: This study was conducted in Hussain Memorial Hospital Lahore and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore for the period of one year and seven months between May 2017 and November 2018. This cross sectional study recruited 60 females with serologically proven HEV in pregnancy. All of these targeted patients were admitted in the aforesaid hospital and followed with coagulation profile and liver function test. The record of maternal mortality, morbidity and fetal outcome was duly maintained.
Results: More maternal morbidity was noted in patients who were admitted in the third trimester with clinical disease and based on laboratory results i.e. the derangement of haematological and biochemical tests. Of the 60 targeted patients, majority of the patients (73.33%) were discharged home safely, therefore, remaining patients were expired with the overall mortality rate of 26.67%. Moreover, perinatal mortality rate was recorded as 30.3 per 1000 live birth.
Conclusion: In conclusion, Hepatitis E is a serious issue in underdeveloped and developing countries with high maternal morbidity and mortality rates in pregnancy especially last trimester. It also increases the risk of perinatal mortality, morbidity and preterm delivery.

Keywords: Perinatal mortality, Liver failure, Acute, Hepatitis E virus, Maternal mortality.