Abstract

Background: HEV infection, a major public health concern, is known to cause largescale 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 pregnant women. Methods: Our study, a retrospective observational study, was conducted in a tertiary care centre for over a period of 3 years (Jan 2017 to Jan 2020) to find out the fetal and maternal outcome in pregnant women with HEV infection. Results: A total of 38antenatal cases with Anti-HEV IgM-positive were included, and the maternalfetal outcome was analyzed. The maternal mortality was 52.63% especially during 3rd trimester and post-partum period, including 5 antenatal death. The most common maternal complication was acute fulminant hepatitis (39.5 %), DIC (36.8 %) and hepatic encephalopathy (31.6%). Prematurity (33.3% of total live births) and Still births (32.3 %) including4fresh still births were the commonest fetal complications noted.