Hepatitis E virus infection causing isolated fetal ascites: a case report.

Maternal hepatitis infection, excepting hepatitis E, causing isolated fetal ascites with variable outcome has been reported previously. We present a case of maternal hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection causing isolated fetal ascites which resolved spontaneously during pregnancy and resulted in a term live-born baby with anti-HEV seropositivity. A 39-year-old primigravida woman was diagnosed with acute HEV infection at 15 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound at 19 weeks showed significant fetal ascites with abdominal calcifications. Fetal karyotype did not show any abnormality. Cord blood was positive for anti-HEV IgM and negative for other intrauterine infections. Ultrasound at 25 weeks showed partial resolution of fetal ascites with complete resolution at 30 weeks. She delivered a healthy baby at 38 completed weeks, with normal liver enzymes at birth and 1-month follow-up.