title: A Study of Hepatitis E in Pregnancy: Maternal and Fetal Outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HEV infection, a major public health concern, is known to cause large-scale epidemic and sporadic cases of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries. The infection occurs primarily in young adults and is generally mild and self-limiting; however, the case fatality rate is reportedly higher among women, especially during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study, a prospective observational study, was conducted at the Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Apple Saraswati Multispeciality hospital, in Kolhapur for over a period of 3 years (Jan 2010 to Jan 2013) to find out the prevalence and clinical outcome in a series of HEV-infected pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of fifty-five symptomatic Anti-HEV IgM-positive women were included, and the maternal-fetal outcome was analyzed. The maternal mortality was 5 % including one antenatal death. Prematurity (80 %) and PROM (11 %) were the commonest fetal complications noted with a vertical transmission rate of 28 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations in maternal morbidity and mortality between different studies indicate a need to subtype the viral genotype according to its virulence and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Center, Kadamwadi, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416003 India.
authors.forename: Gowri Sayi
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Apple Saraswati Multispeciality Hospital and Research Center, Kolhapur, Maharashtra India.
authors.forename: Sayi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Apple Saraswati Multispeciality Hospital and Research Center, Kolhapur, Maharashtra India.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhupali
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Center, Kadamwadi, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416003 India.
authors.forename: Ajit N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Center, Kadamwadi, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416003 India.
authors.forename: Kanishtha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parashar
keywords: Fulminant hepatic failure; Hepatitis E; Maternal mortality; Perinatal morbidity; Pregnancy