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Viral hepatitis in pregnancy

Research Authors
Mohamed Tarek M. Shata, Helal F. Hetta, Yeshika Sharma, Kenneth E. Sherman
Research Date
Research Journal
Journal of viral hepatitis
Research Member
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Vol
29
Research Year
2022
Research_Pages
844-861
Research Abstract

Viral hepatitis is caused by a heterogenous group of viral agents representing a wide range of phylogenetic groups. Many viruses can involve the liver and cause liver injury but only a subset are delineated as ‘hepatitis viruses’ based upon their primary site of replication and tropism for hepatocytes which make up the bulk of the liver cell popu- lation. Since their discovery, beginning with the agent that caused serum hepatitis in the 1960s, the alphabetic designations have been utilized. To date, we have five hepa- titis viruses, A through E, though it is postulated that others may exist. This chapter will focus on those viruses. Note that hepatitis D is included as a subset of hepatitis B, as it cannot exist without concurrent hepatitis B infection. Pregnancy has the po- tential to affect all aspects of these viral agents due to the unique immunologic and physiologic changes that occur during and after the gestational period. In this review, we will discuss the most common viral hepatitis and their effects during pregnancy