Deleterious impact of maternal hepatitis-C viral infection on maternal and fetal outcome: a 5-year prospective study.

<bold>Objective: </bold>To assess prospectively the maternal and fetal outcome among pregnant women with chronic Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection compared to normal control group.<bold>Methods: </bold>A prospective observational study conducted on 342 pregnant women with HCV who were divided into two groups according to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result, group 1 (n = 184, HCV-PCR negative) and group 2 (n = 154, HCV-PCR positive) with a third group of normal pregnant women (n = 170). Obstetric outcome was recorded.<bold>Results: </bold>Patients with positive HCV-PCR have more elevated liver enzymes (p < 0.05) and lower prothrombin INR (p < 0.001) than those with negative HCV-PCR testing. Fewer patients with HCV received previous medical treatment (16/342, 4.6%). More women in the HCV groups delivered by vacuum or cesarean section (p < 0.05), experienced higher rates of antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, anemia, development of GDM, premature rupture of membranes, repeated hospital admissions, blood transfusions, admission to ICU and maternal mortality (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Fetuses of women with HCV infections were more prone to IUFD with higher rates of low birth weight, prematurity, low Apgar scores at 5 min, admission to NICU, need for ventilation, and acquisition of HCV (p < 0.001) as well as neonatal mortality (p < 0.05) compared to the control group.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Patients with HCV infection even those without viremia suffered poor maternal and fetal outcome. Multidisciplinary management of the affected patients should be implemented to improve their obstetric outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]