Hepatitis C and pregnancy

It seems that pregnancy worsens liver lesions in women infected with hepatitis C virus.

These are made by histological examinations BIOPSY (see this term) that can be assumed.

It was possible to compare the biopsy done before pregnancy and the postpartum practiced (several months later).

Of necro-inflammatory lesions and fibrosis occur in the following childbirth on average, after one and a half months.

The Knodell (see this term) was used to assess the extent of damage.

According to the team from INSERM author of this report, this could be worsening of autoimmune origin, because at the beginning of the pregnancy hormone synergistic action (estrogen and progestin) stimulates the action of NK (natural killer cells ) mononuclear.

This action decreases in late pregnancy and rises again after delivery (true immune-mediated rebound).

It is possible that adverse action is reversible, due to the ability of liver cells to regenerate.

If pregnancy contrindique treatment with interferon the question remains of a pre-treatment design and delivery by the post interferon.