OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for and timing of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in women who are not infected with HIV-1. DESIGN: Follow up for a median of 28 (range 24-38) months of babies born to women with antibodies to hepatitis C virus but not HIV-1. SUBJECTS: 442 mothers and babies, of whom 403 completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and viral RNA and alanine aminotransferase activity in babies. Presence of viral RNA, method of infection with hepatitis C, method of delivery, and type of infant feeding in mothers. RESULTS: 13 of the 403 children had acquired hepatitis C virus infection at the end of follow up. All these children were born to women positive for hepatitis C virus RNA; none of the 128 RNA negative mothers passed on the infection (difference 5%, 95% confidence interval 2% to 7%). 6 children had viral RNA immediately after birth. 111 women had used intravenous drugs and 20 had received blood transfusions. 11 of the infected children were born to these women compared with 2 to the 144 with no known risk factor (difference 7%, 2% to 12%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in women not infected with HIV only those with hepatitis C virus RNA are at risk of infecting their babies. Transmission does seem to occur in utero, and the rate of transmission is higher in women who have had blood transfusions or used intravenous drugs than in women with no known risk factor for infection.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for and timing of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in women who are not infected with HIV-1. DESIGN: Follow up for a median of 28 (range 24-38) months of babies born to women with antibodies to hepatitis C virus but not HIV-1. SUBJECTS: 442 mothers and babies, of whom 403 completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and viral RNA and alanine aminotransferase activity in babies. Presence of viral RNA, method of infection with hepatitis C, method of delivery, and type of infant feeding in mothers. RESULTS: 13 of the 403 children had acquired hepatitis C virus infection at the end of follow up. All these children were born to women positive for hepatitis C virus RNA; none of the 128 RNA negative mothers passed on the infection (difference 5%, 95% confidence interval 2% to 7%). 6 children had viral RNA immediately after birth. 111 women had used intravenous drugs and 20 had received blood transfusions. 11 of the infected children were born to these women compared with 2 to the 144 with no known risk factor (difference 7%, 2% to 12%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in women not infected with HIV only those with hepatitis C virus RNA are at risk of infecting their babies. Transmission does seem to occur in utero, and the rate of transmission is higher in women who have had blood transfusions or used intravenous drugs than in women with no known risk factor for infection.
Authors: F Bortolotti; M Resti; R Giacchino; C Azzari; N Gussetti; C Crivellaro; C Barbera; F Mannelli; L Zancan; A Bertolini Journal: J Pediatr Date: 1997-06 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: E M Rodriguez; L M Mofenson; B H Chang; K C Rich; M G Fowler; V Smeriglio; S Landesman; H E Fox; C Diaz; K Green; I C Hanson Journal: AIDS Date: 1996-03 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: M de Martino; P A Tovo; L Galli; D Caselli; C Gabiano; P L Mazzoni; A Giacomelli; M Duse; C Fundarò Journal: Arch Dis Child Date: 1991-10 Impact factor: 3.791
Authors: A J Weiner; M M Thaler; K Crawford; K Ching; J Kansopon; D Y Chien; J E Hall; F Hu; M Houghton Journal: J Virol Date: 1993-07 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: E Silini; F Bono; A Cividini; A Cerino; S Bruno; S Rossi; G Belloni; B Brugnetti; E Civardi; L Salvaneschi Journal: Hepatology Date: 1995-02 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: A R Zanetti; E Tanzi; S Paccagnini; N Principi; G Pizzocolo; M L Caccamo; E D'Amico; G Cambiè; L Vecchi Journal: Lancet Date: 1995-02-04 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: H Ohto; S Terazawa; N Sasaki; N Sasaki; K Hino; C Ishiwata; M Kako; N Ujiie; C Endo; A Matsui Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1994-03-17 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: C M Healy; M T Cafferkey; A Conroy; S Dooley; W W Hall; M Beckett; R Mackey; T A Clarke; M J White; W A Gorman; K M Butler Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2000 Jul-Sep Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: George K Siberry; Mark J Abzug; Sharon Nachman; Michael T Brady; Kenneth L Dominguez; Edward Handelsman; Lynne M Mofenson; Steve Nesheim Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Zelma B Costa; Gustavo C Machado; Mariza M Avelino; Clidenor Gomes Filho; Jose V Macedo Filho; Ana L Minuzzi; Marilia D Turchi; Mariane M A Stefani; Wayner Vieira de Souza; Celina Mt Martelli Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2009-07-27 Impact factor: 3.090