Mother‐to‐infant transmission of hepatitis C virus: Rate of infection and assessment of viral load and IgM anti‐HCV as risk factors*

Molin, G. Dal; D’Agaro, Pierlanfranco; Ansaldi, Filippo; Ciana, Giovanni; Fertz, C.; Alberico, Salvatore; Campello, Cesare

doi:10.1002/jmv.2202

Cited by 104 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Since viral screening began to be used routinely in blood donors, vertical transmission became the main cause of hepatitis C in children. Vertical transmission occurs in approximately 5% of HIV-negative mothers and in up to 25% of mothers co-infected with HIV [14] . asymptomatic relatives.…”

Section: Viral Hepatitismentioning

confidence: 99%

Cirrhosis in children and adolescents: An overview

Pinto

Schneider

Silveira

2015

WJH

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Several conditions, especially chronic liver diseases, can lead to cirrhosis in children and adolescents. Most cases in clinical practice are caused by similar etiologies. In infants, cirrhosis is most often caused by biliary atresia and genetic-metabolic diseases, while in older children, it tends to result from autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson's disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and primary sclerosing cholangitis. The symptoms of cirrhosis in children and adolescents are similar to those of adults. However, in pediatric patients, the first sign of cirrhosis is often poor weight gain. The complications of pediatric cirrhosis are similar to those observed in adult patients, and include gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastroesophageal varices, ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In pediatric patients, special attention should be paid to the nutritional alterations caused by cirrhosis, since children and adolescents have higher nutritional requirements for growth and development. Children and adolescents with chronic cholestasis are at risk for several nutritional deficiencies. Malnutrition can have severe consequences for both pre-and post-liver transplant patients. The treatment of cirrhosis-induced portal hypertension in children and adolescents is mostly based on methods developed for adults. The present article will review the diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects of end-stage liver disease in children, as well as the major treatment options for this condition.

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Section: Viral Hepatitismentioning

confidence: 99%

Cirrhosis in children and adolescents: An overview

Pinto

Schneider

Silveira

2015

WJH

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“…This seems to be related to the fluctuation of HCV viral loads above and below the sensitivity level of the test, or resulting from the use of testing methods that are not sensitive enough to detect low levels of HCV RNA. Depending on the load of the virus, the risk of transmission from positive HCV RNA mothers may become greater (13), although a specific cut-off value predicting or excluding transmission, has yet to be defined (14,15). HCV and HIV coinfection in mothers can increase the risk of transmission substantially (16).…”

Section: Ziyaeyan M Et Al Hcv Transmission To the Orphan Newbornsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Antibody Positive Orphan Newborns

Ziyaeyan

Jamalidoust

Moeini

2012

Jundishapur J Microbiol

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Comparing diagnostic methods of vertical transmission of HCV infection can serve as a cornerstone for better understanding of the capability of each methods in more accurate diagnosis of HCV infection in the newborns.HCV is spread through contaminated blood and blood products with percutaneous exposure. This disease also poses a risk to injection drug users (IDU) and hemodialysis patients. However, sexual transmission of HCV is comparably low in Iran, and in addition the risk through occupational exposure is also very low. Mother-to-infant transmission rates vary widely (5-9). Usually, a mother BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of; chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. It represents an enormous global health problem, affecting 130-170 million people worldwide. In Iran, the prevalence of HCV in the general population is 0.5% (1), but the rate is higher in certain at risk populations (2-4).Background: The rate of mother-to-infant hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is relatively low, however, this mode of infection is the most important route for childhood HCV involvement. The chances of transmission are increased by the level of maternal HCV viraemia and maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co infection. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of HCV infection in orphan newborns of infected mothers. Patients and Methods: A total of 29, two to seven month old, orphan infants were included in the study. The tests performed consisted of the detection of; anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibodies, HCV RNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and finally the detection of HCV core antigens (HCV core Ag). Results: Anti-HCV antibodies were detectable in all of the infants. However HCV RNA was undetectable in both plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and there were also no anti-HIV 1/2 antibodies present in the infants. Conclusions: Few studies have addressed the issue of mother-to-infant transmission of HCV among orphan newborns. According to the present study, carried out with orphan babies, the use of a HCV core Ag assay and evaluation of HCV RNA in PBMCs together with HCV RNA real-time PCR on the plasma, could benefit the prediction or exclusion of HCV transmission from mother to child.

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“…Mechanisms leading to perinatal HCV transmission are currently not well understood. Likely risk factors include perinatal practices (fetal scalp monitoring and caesarean‐section delivery), extended exposure to maternal blood, high levels of HCV viremia during pregnancy, and co‐infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Although some studies have challenged several of these assumptions,20, 21 a recent meta‐analysis concluded that maternal HIV co‐infection is the most important determinant of the risk of perinatal transmission 15…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%