Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Nov;56(6):368-374. 10.5468/ogs.2013.56.6.368.

Hepatitis A virus infection during pregnancy in Korea: Hepatitis A infection on pregnant women

• Cho GJ
• Kim YB
• Kim SM
• Hong HR
• Kim JH
• Seol HJ
• Hong SC
• Oh MJ
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 1500370
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2013.56.6.368

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Although there is a large body of data on acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) worldwide, data regarding the occurrence of HAV during pregnancy is limited. It is commonly acknowledged that HAV is not associated with severe outcomes or complications during pregnancy. In contrast, there are several reported cases of vertical HAV transmission. Moreover, it has been recently reported that HAV infection during pregnancy is associated with gestational complications. In Korea, the incidence of HAV infection has increased from 317 cases in 2002 to 13,117 cases in 2009. However, HAV infection during pregnancy is rarely reported in Korea.
METHODS
This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort series of pregnant women presenting to Korea University Medical Center between January 2000 and October 2009 in whom a diagnosis of HAV infection was made.
RESULTS
During study period, there were 12 cases of HAV in pregnant women, including two cases with preterm contraction, two cases with cholestatic hepatitis, and one case with fetal ascites and intra-abdominal calcification.
CONCLUSION
HAV infection during pregnancy is associated with high prevalence of maternal and fetal complications. Because the incidence of HAV infection in women of reproductive age is increasing, a further focus on preventing HAV infection during pregnancy is warranted.

Keyword

Hepatitis A; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications

MeSH Terms

Academic Medical Centers
Ascites
Cohort Studies
Diagnosis
Female
Hepatitis A virus
Hepatitis A*
Hepatitis
Humans
Incidence
Korea*
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women*
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Incidence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection from January 2002 to October 2009 in Korea and (B) Korean women by age.

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  Fig. 2 Prenatal (A-C) and neonatal (D) sonography were performed in case 9. (A) Ascites was found at 20 weeks gestation (white arrow), and (B) an intra-abdominal calcification was seen at 22.1 weeks gestation (black arrow). (C) However, prenatal sonography at 38.1 weeks gestation showed (D) spontaneous resolution of the ascites and intra-abdominal calcification, which was confirmed by postnatal sonography at 3 days of life.

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