Ivan Schréter, Zuzana Paraličová
The clinical course of both acute and chronic viral hepatitis is usually not influenced by pregnancy, except for hepatitis E, which can lead to severe fulminant hepatitis. Vertical transmission of hepatitis A is exceptionally rare. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B was very frequent in the past, especially in HBeAg positive mothers (more than 90 %). It was significantly reduced after the introduction of active immunisation of newborns. Hepatitis C is vertically transmited in less than 5 % of infected women. No specific preventive measures for both hepatitis C and E are available. The treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in pregnancy is a specific problem. The treatment of chronic hepatitis C is contraindicated during pregnancy and treatment options of chronic hepatitis B are limited.
Key wards: viral hepatitis, pregnancy, vertical transmission