Acute hepatitis B in pregnant women

Objective. Identification of the clinical features of acute hepatitis B (AHB) in pregnant women.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the course of AHB was conducted in 46 pregnant women (Group 1) treated at the Specialized Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in 2000–2023, as well as in 44 non-pregnant women (Group 2), randomly selected and matched for age.

Results. There were no significant differences in the incidence of icteric and anicteric forms, severe, moderate, mild, complicated, and protracted course of AHB among hospitalized pregnant and non-pregnant women. Iron deficiency anemia and chronic pyelonephritis were significantly more common among the comorbidities in Group 1. The pre-icteric period in pregnant women was shorter, and dyspeptic and asthenovegetative forms were significantly more common. Vomiting was less common during the icteric period in Group 1. The pregnant women had normal mean prothrombin index values. Patients in Group 2 were significantly more often prescribed H2-histamine receptor antagonists and hemostatic agents. Severe AHB was more common in the third trimester of pregnancy, moderate in the second, and mild in the first. Preterm labor in the third trimester associated with AHB was observed in 14.6% of patients.

Conclusion. The characteristics of acute hepatitis B during pregnancy include a shorter pre-icteric period with a predominance of dyspeptic and asthenovegetative forms, less pronounced manifestations of dyspeptic syndrome during the icteric period, and a predominance of severe forms in the third trimester of gestation.