To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the pregnancy outcome of patients with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Data of 114 patients with IVF-ET treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2015 to June 2021 were analyzed, retrospectively. The 114 patients were divided into study group with HBV infection (67 cases) and control group without hepatitis virus infection (47 cases) according to the patients’ medical history, etiological examination of HBV. The general clinical data of the two groups [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and total bile acids (TBA) in early pregnancy], the pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension disease, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy, oligohydramnios, placenta accreta, placenta previa, premature rupture of membranes, fetal distress, premature delivery and cesarean section rate, postpartum hemorrhage), neonatal outcome (birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal defects, HBV infection in neonates) of the two groups were analyzed, respectively. Measurement data such as age, BMI, laboratory indicators and birth weight were compared between the two groups by t-test. The statistical data of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), hypothyroidism of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes and cesarean section rate were analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test. Data of multiparous women, adverse pregnancy history, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, oligohydramnios, placenta previa, placental adhesion, fetal distress, preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage rate, and neonatal asphyxia were analyzed by Chi-square test with continuous correction.

There was no significant difference in ALT, AST, TBil and TBA between patients of the two groups in the first trimester. The incidence of ICP were significantly higher in study group compared with the control group (20.9% vs. 2.13%), with significant difference (χ² = 8.515, P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in gestational diabetes mellitus (47.76% vs. 40.43%: χ² = 0.601, P = 0.438), gestational hypertension (5.97% vs. 4.26%: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000), placenta previa (2.99% vs. 2.13%: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000), placental adhesion (7.46% vs. 4.26%: χ² = 0.094, P = 0.759), hypothyroidism during pregnancy (17.91% vs. 6.38%: χ² = 3.212, P = 0.073), fetal distress (4.48% vs. 2.13%: χ² = 0.024, P = 0.877), oligohydramnios (5.97% vs. 4.26%: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000), premature delivery (5.97% vs. 6.38%: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000), premature rupture of membranes (14.93% vs. 8.51%: χ² = 1.055, P = 0.304), postpartum hemorrhage (7.46% vs. 6.38%: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000) and cesarean section rate (38.81% vs. 25.53%: χ² = 2.19, P = 0.139) between study group and control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in weight of newborn [(2 932 ± 425.32) g vs. (3 057 ± 412.51) g: t = 1.40, P = 0.167] and neonatal asphyxia (2.27% vs. 0: χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000). Incidence of birth defects and neonatal HBV infection of the two groups were not statistically significant. No birth defects and HBV infection occurred in neonatus of the two groups.

HBV infection may increase the risk of ICP in pregnant women with IVF, while does not increase the risk of other pregnancy complications. HBV infection of pregnant women with IVF did not result in adverse neonatal outcomes.