Background and Study Aims: Immunological changes occurring during pregnancy in HCV-infected women that might protect the foetus attract the attention. Aim was to monitor changes in serum levels of endogenous interferon-α (IFN-α) and transaminases (AST &ALT) in Egyptian pregnant women with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
Patients and Methods: A total of 56 women were studied. Cases group comprised 26 pregnant women with CHC (positive for both anti HCV and HCV- RNA- PCR). Transaminases were assessed in the 3 trimesters while endogenous INF-α was assessed in early 2nd & late 3rd ones. Three control groups were taken 10 women each: pregnant women with negative HCV-Ab, Non pregnant, HCV positive women and Non pregnant, HCV negative groups. Infants born to CHC patients were tested for HCV-RNA-PCR after ≥ 12 months old.
Results: Transaminases were statistically significant decreasing as pregnancy was progressing in the cases group. Moreover, in the 3rd trimester, cases group had serum transaminases levels comparable to those of healthy pregnant and non-pregnant-women groups without HCV and significantly lower than those of HCV positive non pregnant women. There was a non-significant rise in viral load in early 2nd and late 3rd trimesters in cases group. Serum endogenous INF-α level was significantly increased when measured in late 3rd compared to that in early 2nd trimester. This rise in serum endogenous INF-α level in the 3rd trimester was significant when compared to all control groups. Fortunately, all the examined 26 infants born to CHC mothers had undetectable HCV-RNA-PCR when were older than 24 months.
Conclusion: Endogenous INF- α progressively rises during pregnancy in CHC patients and this might explain the low rates of vertical transmission and the noticeable reduction in transaminases levels in such patients.
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