Seroprevalence of subclinical HEV infection in pregnant women from north India: a hospital based study.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major public health problem in the developing countries. HEV infection in pregnant women is more common and fatal in the third trimester. The mortality rate due to HEV-induced hepatitis is as high as 15-20 per cent. The present study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of subclinical HEV infection in pregnant primigravidae women.


METHODS
A total of 300 asymptomatic healthy primigravidae (gestational age 16-24 wk) with no history of jaundice were included in the study. Prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of seropositive HEV IgG was 33.67 per cent among the pregnant women. The seropositivity of HEV IgG was significantly high in urban population (P<0.05), and related with the period of settlement (P<0.05) and source of water (P=0.05). Low socio-economic status of the pregnant women appeared to be the only risk factor (OR=1.96, CI=1.17-3.28) associated with HEV IgG antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, exposure to HEV during pregnancy was higher in urban (slum areas) than rural population. Socio-economic status was a risk factor for anti-HEV IgG in pregnant women. Early preventive measures if taken, may decrease the maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity of HEV infection.
Begum
Nargis
N
Departments of Medicine, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
Devi
Salam Gyaneshwori
SG
Husain
Syed A
SA
Kar
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G