Background: There is no doubt that unique immunological changes occur during pregnancy
but its impact on virology and biochemical makers of hepatitis B infection is not well
understood. Rapid changes in the immunological profile postpartum and consequent rebound
of the inflammatory response result in hepatic flares. Treatment with antiviral drugs in
pregnancy and beyond has been said to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality due to
this flare. A cursor search through the literature revealed no local study on liver dysfunction in
pregnant women with hepatitis B virus infection.
Objective: To determine whether there is increase in liver dysfunction in pregnant women
infected with hepatitis B virus in Lagos Island Maternity Hospital using the rise in serum alanine
aminotransferase as a determinant of liver dysfunction.
Method: The study was a comparative study involving 110 pregnant women with hepatitis B
virus in Lagos Island Maternity Hospital as study group and equal number of pregnant women
that were not infected with hepatitis B virus as controls. The difference in serum ALT between
the two samples that were collected at booking and on day 2 postpartum was compared
between the study and control groups and among the various subgroups in the study group
based on results of hepatitis B envelop antigen(HBeAg),anti HBc, IgM anti-HBc and anti- HBS
serological tests.