Is HCV transmitted by the vertical/perinatal route?

Tanzi, Elisabetta; Stringhi, C; Paccagnini, S.; Profeta, M. L.; Zanetti, Â.R.

doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-9312-9_23

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…There remains a debate as to the exact role of this route of HCV spread [90]. Vertical transmission from mother to child has been reported in a number of studies [91–100] on the basis of asymptomatic biochemical abnormalities of liver function tests in particular ALT and transient anti‐HCV seropositivity using either ELISA or PCR in the majority of infants born to mothers with HCV infection. Persistence of anti‐HCV has been noted with HIV coinfection suggesting facilitatory role of HIV in HCV transmission [91,92,94,97,101].…”

Section: Perinatal or Vertical Or Mother‐to‐offspring Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C: an epidemiological review

Memon

2002

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

235

163

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The aim of the study was to analyse the current literature regarding the mode of transmission of HCV and its global prevalence in different groups of people. A systematic review of the literature on the epidemiology of hepatitis C from 1991 to 2000 using computerized bibliographic databases which include Medline, Current Content and Embase. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies tremendously in different parts of the world, with the highest incidence in the Eastern parts of the globe compared with the Western parts. Furthermore, certain groups of individuals such as intravenous drug users are at increased risk of acquiring this disease irrespective of the geographical location. Although the main route of transmission is via contaminated blood, curiously enough in up to 50% of the cases no recognizable transmission factor/route could be identified. Therefore, a number of other routes of transmission such as sexual or household exposure to infected contacts have been investigated with conflicting results. Hepatitis C infection is an important public health issue globally. Better understanding of routes of transmission will help to combat the spread of disease. In order to prevent a world wide epidemic of this disease, urgent measures are required to (i) develop a strategy to inform and educate the public regarding this disease and (ii) expedite the efforts to develop a vaccine.

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Section: Perinatal or Vertical Or Mother‐to‐offspring Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C: an epidemiological review

Memon

2002

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

235

163

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“…Many papers have addressed the problem of mother‐to‐child HCV transmission 1–16 . In general, vertical transmission is only partially understood, due to the lack of convenient and effective tests to quantify the viraemia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C virus infection in pregnancy

Floreani¹,

Paternoster

Zappalà³

et al. 1996

BJOG

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Objective To evaluate the clinical aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver disease in anti‐HCV + ve mothers, both during pregnancy and six months after delivery, and to assess the outcome of pregnancy. Setting Obstetric department for high risk pregnancies of the University of Padova, Italy. Participants Seventeen hundred consecutive pregnant women were studied. Methods Each woman underwent the following: 1. serological screening for hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV), antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIVI) within the first trimester of pregnancy; and 2. clinico‐biochemical assessment in order to ascertain previous or active liver disease and risk factors for viral infections. Results Twenty‐nine (1.7%) of the 1700 women were found anti‐HCV positive. Eight of them had an associated positivity for HIV infection. HCV‐RNA was positive in 64.2% of anti‐HCV positive women. Liver function tests (included transaminases) were within the normal range in 27 mothers (both during and six months after delivery). Only 2/29 women had a slight increase in AST/ALT; liver biopsy in these cases was compatible with mild chronic active hepatitis. In all women the outcome of pregnancy was favourable (12/29 anti‐HCV positive mothers underwent caesarean delivery for causes independent from HCV infection). Conclusions A substantial proportion of anti‐HCV positive pregnant mothers, even if asymptomatic, have circulating HCV‐RNA. The pregnancy does not induce a deterioration of liver disease, and vice versa, HCV infection does not increase the risk of obstetric complications.

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Low prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among Italian children

et al. 1994

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The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibody was studied among 2,749 children and teenagers (1,438 males and 1,311 females) living in Italy. Anti-HCV antibody testing was positive by both EIA and RIBA in ten (0.36%) subjects. The positivity rate increased with age, ranging from 0 among children less than 6 years of age to 0.8% among those aged 17-19 years chi 2 linear regression = 0.038). Anti-HCV prevalence ranged from 0.2% in northeastern regions and in Apulia to 0.6% in Sicily and Sardinia (p > 0.005), and no difference was seen between males (0.35%, C.I. 95%: 0.04-0.66) and females (0.38%, C.I. 95%: 0.04-0.66) (Fisher's exact test = 0.565). From these data it appears that in Italy HCV infection is an uncommon event during childhood.

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Is HCV transmitted by the vertical/perinatal route?

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

Hepatitis C: an epidemiological review

Hepatitis C: an epidemiological review

Hepatitis C virus infection in pregnancy

Low prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among Italian children

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