Vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus.
Little is known about vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus from infected mothers to their infants. We studied eight babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis E in third trimester. One baby was icteric at birth with elevated transaminases and four babies had anicteric hepatitis. Two babies were born with hypothermia and hypoglycaemia and died within 24 h; one had massive hepatic necrosis. Hepatitis E virus RNA was detected by PCR in cord or birth blood samples of five infants. Six infants had evidence of hepatitis E infection. We conclude that hepatitis E virus is commonly transmitted from infected mothers to their babies with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Khuroo
M S
MS
Department of Gastroenterology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Kamili
S
S
Jameel
S
S
D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious