[Interactions between chronic viral hepatitis C and pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
In France, the positive rate for unit-HCV antibodies in the sera of pregnant women is usually found to be between 0.7 and 3.9%. The aim of our prospective study was to determine the interactions between pregnancy and chronic viral hepatitis C in 12 pregnant women.


RESULTS
In our study, chronic viral hepatitis C did not influence maternal or neonatal outcome. The mean gestational age was 38.4 +/- 3 weeks. During follow-up, mean serum ALT levels were significantly lower (36 +/- 17 mU/mL) during the last three months of pregnancy compared to before pregnancy (237 +/- 144 mU/mL, P < 0.002) and after pregnancy (141 +/- 62 mU/mL, P < 0.0005). During the third trimester, serum ALT levels were normal in 90% of the women. However, the persistence of viremia during pregnancy and a rebound in serum ALT during the post-partum period have been noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
The normalization of serum ALT levels during pregnancy, the persistence of viremia, and a rebound in serum ALT during post-partum could be related to pregnancy-induced changes in the immune system.
Grangé
J D
JD
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Tenon, Paris.
Abergel
A
A
Amiot
X
X
Chaslin-Ferbus
D
D
Aygalenq
P
P
Fouqueray
B
B
Valla
D
D
Bommelaer
G
G
Bodin
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Interactions entre l'hépatite virale chronique C et la grossesse.