Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 345, Issue 8956, 22 April 1995, Pages 1025-1026
The Lancet

Vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90761-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Little is known about vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus from infected mothers to their infants. We studied eight babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis E in third trimester. One baby was icteric at birth with elevated transaminases and four babies had anicteric hepatitis. Two babies were born with hypothermia and hypoglycaemia and died within 24 h; one had massive hepatic necrosis. Hepatitis E virus RNA was detected by PCR in cord or birth blood samples of five infants. Six infants had evidence of hepatitis E infection. We conclude that hepatitis E virus is commonly transmitted from infected mothers to their babies with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality.

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