Interferon therapy for acute hepatitis C during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Due to their antiproliferative activity, the probable effects of interferons on a fetus are a concern. We report on a pregnant patient who developed acute hepatitis C during pregnancy and was treated with a short course of interferon alfa therapy with a successful outcome.


METHODS
A 26-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute hepatitis C at the 16th week of pregnancy. She received a total dose of 72 million units of interferon alfa-2b during a 2 1/2 month period. Although the therapy was discontinued due to adverse effects, a complete biochemical and virologic response was obtained. Premature labor occurred and healthy, but growth-restricted, twin infants were born transvaginally. At 18 months of age, they had normal development, with a negative hepatitis C serology.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of transmission of hepatitis C virus from mother to infant is within the range of 1-5%. Although acute hepatitis C during pregnancy is a very rare occurrence, the mother is at a great risk for chronic infection. There is scarce literature about the probable effects of interferon use during pregnancy due to a lack of controlled studies in this special population. A total of 8 infants, including ours, exposed to interferon alfa and/or ribavirin during pregnancy showed no congenital anomalies or malformations.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic hepatitis whose therapy can be delayed should not be treated with interferon due to a lack of controlled studies. However, women exposed to interferon inadvertently during pregnancy may be encouraged to continue pregnancy. In patients with acute hepatitis C during pregnancy, the use of interferon therapy should be considered with close monitoring.
Ozaslan
Ersan
E
Division of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. er72@hotmail.com
Yilmaz
Rahmi
R
Simsek
Halis
H
Tatar
Gonca
G
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha