Research

Medical Sciences

Title :	A study of maternal nutrition in hepatitis E during pregnancy and its role in vertical transmission
Area of research :	Medical Sciences
Focus area :	Maternal Health
Principal Investigator :	Dr. Ashok Kumar, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi
Timeline Start Year :	2012
Timeline End Year :	2015
Contact info :	ash64kr@yahoo.com

Details

Executive Summary :

The present study found hepatitis E virus (HEV) to be the most common etiological agent of viral hepatitis in pregnant women. The prevalence of HEV in pregnant women with hepatitis was 53.93%. All the mortality that was observed occurred exclusively in the fulminant hepatitis group of pregnant women with HEV infection. Serum prealbumin was the only independent factor which could reduce risk of mortality during HEV infection. Maternal serum folate was the only independent risk factor associated with baby mortality in FHF group in pregnant women with HEV infection. Viral load of HEV in FHF pregnant women were comparatively higher than AVH pregnant women, which may be related to the severity of the diseases in pregnant women. Acute and fulminant viral hepatitis E pregnant patients belonged to subtype 1a of genotype 1. Thus this shows that vertical transmission occurs during HEV infection. Vertical transmission was observed in 46.09% of cases. All the HEV-RNA positive babies belonged to genotype 1. Thus this shows that vertical transmission occurs during HEV infection. Low maternal BMI was observed in HEV positive mothers of HEV-IgM positive babies and HEV-RNA positive babies compared to that of HEV-IgM negative babies and HEV-RNA negative babies. Cut-off value of maternal BMI.