title: Clinical characteristics of fulminant hepatitis in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical characteristics of fulminant hepatitis in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared and analyzed the etiology, clinical characteristics, and laboratory examinations of 25 cases of fulminant hepatitis in pregnancy and 30 cases of fulminant hepatitis not in pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV infection and chronic fulminant hepatitis were most common both in the pregnant and in the non-pregnant groups. Jaundice, digestive tract symptoms, increase of bilirubin and thrombinogen activity were the main manifestations. The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and hepato-renal syndrome (HRS) was significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of preterm labor, dead fetus and neonatal asphyxia was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fulminant hepatitis is likely to occur in late pregnancy with more severe complications, which significantly influences maternity, perinatal fetus, and newborn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China. tigerlee777@163.net
authors.forename: Xiao-Mao
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yue-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhong-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shui-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography