Effect of pregnancy on chronic hepatitis C: a case-control study

Lancet. 2000 Oct 14;356(9238):1328-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02823-3.

Abstract

There is evidence of deterioration of hepatitis C after pregnancy. To investigate potential histological changes, we compared liver biopsy samples taken before and after delivery from 12 women positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 12 nonpregnant HCV-positive women. Semiquantitative histopathological measurements showed greater deterioration in cases than in controls (necroinflammatory score deterioration 83.3% vs 25.0%; fibrosis score 41.6% vs 8.3%). This case-control study suggests that pregnancy may worsen HCV-related histopathological injury.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology*
  • Transaminases / metabolism

Substances

  • Transaminases