Liver disease in pregnancy and its influence on maternal and fetal mortality: a prospective study from Chennai, Southern India

摘要

Liver disease occurring in pregnancy assumes major importance in developing countries like India. Unfortunately, limited information is available on the prevalence of liver disease during pregnancy, and on its effect on neonatal and maternal mortality, from a South Indian perspective. Liver disease during pregnancy often leads to a high maternal mortality rate and fetal loss. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of jaundice during pregnancy in relation to age and parity, and to determine its effect on perinatal morbidity and mortality. Our center is a large tertiary-care referral center for digestive diseases in South India. Consecutive pregnant women with clinical evidence of jaundice, who were admitted from January 1996 to August 2004, were recruited into this prospective study. Obstetric history and details of other systemic diseases such as chronic liver disease, gallbladder disease, diabetes, hypertension, and prolonged drug intake were noted. Details of jaundice in earlier pregnancies and of blood transfusions were noted. A detailed questionnaire incorporating the clinical parameters of liver dysfunction was also studied.