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HBV/HCV in mothers led to increased risk for neurological outcomes in infants

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in mothers were associated with an increased risk for neonatal neurological outcomes in infants, according to study data.

“We already have evidence that perinatal transmission of HBV and HCV has adverse effects on offspring, including low birth weight, preterm birth and congenital anomalies,” Jason L. Salemi, PhD, of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told Healio.com/Hepatology. “This study suggests that maternal HBV and HCV infection may be similar to other sexually transmitted infections (eg, HIV) in negatively impacting neonatal neuropathology.”

Jason L. Salemi

In a retrospective cohort study, Salemi and colleagues analyzed data of singleton infants born alive from 1998 to 2009 from a multi-year, state-wide maternal and infant database in Florida, to determine any association between maternal HBV and HCV status and infant neurological outcomes at birth, including cephalhematoma, foetal distress, neonatal seizures and more. Of a total population of 2,217,235, researchers identified 3,513 mothers positive for HBV and 2,456 positive for HCV. Forty-four percent of mothers with HBV were black and 28% were of Asian/Pacific Islander descent. Sixty-nine percent of mothers positive for HCV were white.

Infants born to mothers with hepatitis infection had a greater risk for adverse neurological outcome (5% for HBV, 7.2% for HCV) compared with infants born from mothers without hepatitis (4.2%). Mothers with HCV were more likely to have an infant with an adverse neurological outcome (OR=1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.44). Women with HBV were more likely to have infants with brachial plexus injury (OR=2.04; 95% CI, 1.15-3.6), and mothers with HCV had an increased chance of having an infant with difficulty feeding (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.06-1.64) and neonatal seizures (OR=1.74; 95% CI, 0.98-3.1).

Mothers positive for HBV or HCV were more likely to be aged at least 30 years, have less than 12 years of education, at least one child already, unmarried and did not receive proper prenatal care, according to the research.

“Our study showed that maternal HBV infection is associated with a twofold increased odds of brachial plexus injury, which maternal HCV infection is associated with an increased odds of several neurological outcomes, including cephalhematoma, feeding difficulties and neonatal seizures,” the researchers concluded. – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.