The lack of transmission of NANB/C hepatitis between acute and chronically infected patients and their heterosexual partners.

In order to study the risk of heterosexual transmission of non-A, non-B/C (NANB/C) hepatitis, 34 spouses and/or sexual partners to 34 index patients (13 women, 21 men; median age 39 years) with acute NANB/C hepatitis (anti-HCV positive 13/34) were repeatedly tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and serum alanine aminotransferase (S-ALAT) values. Spouses and/or sexual partners to 13 patients with chronic NANB/C hepatitis (11/13 anti-HCV positive) were also studied by determining anti-HCV and S-ALAT levels. No conclusive evidence of heterosexual transmission of NANB/C hepatitis was found.