Viral Hepatitis and Pregnancy

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2020 Oct 13

PMID 33046891

Citations 41

Authors

Norah A Terrault

Miriam T Levy

Ka Wang Cheung

Gonzague Jourdain

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The management of viral hepatitis in the setting of pregnancy requires special consideration. There are five liver-specific viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E), each with unique epidemiology, tendency to chronicity, risk of liver complications and response to antiviral therapies. In the setting of pregnancy, the liver health of the mother, the influence of pregnancy on the clinical course of the viral infection and the effect of the virus or liver disease on the developing infant must be considered. Although all hepatitis viruses can harm the mother and the child, the greatest risk to maternal health and subsequently the fetus is seen with acute hepatitis A virus or hepatitis E virus infection during pregnancy. By contrast, the primary risks for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus are related to the severity of the underlying liver disease in the mother and the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) for HBV and HCV. The prevention of MTCT is key to reducing the global burden of chronic viral hepatitis, and prevention strategies must take into consideration local health-care and socioeconomic challenges. This Review presents the epidemiology of acute and chronic viral hepatitis infection in pregnancy, the effect of pregnancy on the course of viral infection and, conversely, the influence of the viral infection on maternal and infant outcomes, including MTCT.

Citing Articles

Global burden and trends of viral hepatitis among women of childbearing age from 1990 to 2021.

Yang S, Zhong L, Huang L, Lin S, Li Y Front Microbiol. 2025; 16:1553129.

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Effect of invasive tests during pregnancy on perinatal transmission of hepatitis B infection: a scoping review.

Cheung K, Au T, Li Y, Han Z, Zhang Z, Seto M EClinicalMedicine. 2025; 80:103039.

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Positive association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and anemia in pregnancy in Southern China.

Huang R, Lu Z, Li X, Zhou D, Xu J, Lin D Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):1980.

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Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription-Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish.

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Hu X, Yang Y, Feng G, Zhou X, Tang M, Yan H F S Rep. 2024; 5(3):272-278.

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