Hepatitis B carrier and perinatal outcome in singleton pregnancy.

The objective of this article is to evaluate the effect of hepatitis B antigenemia on perinatal outcome. Perinatal outcome of 824 women with hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) was compared with 6281 women without hepatitis B surface antigen (control) from June 1996 to September 1998. The maternal characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Perinatal outcome was comparable between groups. The incidences of preterm birth, premature prelabor rupture of membranes, prelabor rupture of membranes, small for gestational age, neonatal jaundice, fetal distress, perinatal asphyxia, congenital abnormality, gastrointestinal tract abnormality, and perinatal mortality were similar among the two groups. We conclude that the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant women does not pose additional risk for the pregnancy.