title: Acute hepatitis C during the third trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: A pregnant woman presented at 32 weeks of amenorrhea with jaundice secondary to acute hepatitis C. Spontaneous delivery took place 3 days later. The infant's serum tested negative for C viral RNA 6 months after delivery. Treatment with high doses of interferon-alpha for a period of 4 weeks was begun 4 days after delivery. Although a virological response was noted at the end of the treatment, the hepatitis relapsed and progressed toward chronicity. Case reports of acute hepatitis C during pregnancy are very rare, as the methods used for the follow-up of pregnant women render the diagnosis of asymptomatic forms difficult. In one case, the acute hepatitis C was severe. The occurrence of acute hepatitis C during pregnancy seems to increase the risk of premature delivery, but not that of vertical transmission. Given the frequency of side effects, it seems preferable not to begin interferon treatment until after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diseases of the digestive tract, Groupe Hospitalier de l'Institut Catholique de Lille, Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert, Lomme.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Michèle-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Medam-Djomo
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucidarme
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decoster
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houze de l'Aulnoit
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Filoche
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins