Maternal hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and neonatal neurological outcomes

Introduction: Although perinatal transmission of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viral infections have been shown to increase the risk of adverse effects in offspring, previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the association between maternal HBV and HCV infection and infant neurological outcomes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal HBV and HCV infection and carrier status with selected infant neurological outcomes during the first year of life. Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study using all singleton births in Florida from 1998 to 2007. The primary exposures were maternal HBV and HCV mono-infection. The main infant neurological outcomes included brachial plexus injury, cephalhematoma, cerebral depression, central nervous systems defects, facial nerve injury, fetal distress, feeding difficulties, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neonatal seizures. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to generate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The risk of any adverse neurological outcome was higher in infants born to mothers with viral hepatitis (5.4% for HCV, 4.3% for HBV), compared to infants of hepatitis-free mothers (3.7%). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and pregnancy complications, infants born to mothers with HCV were at greater risk for feeding difficulties (AOR: 1.39, 95% CI=1.03-1.88) and neonatal seizures (AOR: 2.54, 95% CI=1.13-5.71), whereas those born to mothers with HBV were more likely to suffer brachial plexus injury (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI=1.39-4.57). Discussion: Our findings provide further understanding of the association between maternal HBV/HCV infections and infant neurological outcomes.