TY - JOUR
T1 - Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in a cohort of 2,447 HIV-seronegative pregnant women
T2 - A 24-month prospective study
AU - Ceci, Oronzo
AU - Margiotta, Marcella
AU - Marello, Fiorino
AU - Francavilla, Ruggiero
AU - Loizzi, Pasquale
AU - Francavilla, Antonio
AU - Mautone, Angela
AU - Impedovo, Luigi
AU - Ierardi, Enzo
AU - Mastroianni, Maria
AU - Bettocchi, Stefano
AU - Selvaggi, Luigi
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: Mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been extensively studied in mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, whereas fewer data are available on the vertical HCV transmission in HIV-negative women. Methods: Between January 1995 and June 1997, 78 consecutive HCV-positive/HIV-negative women with their offspring entered this prospective study aimed to define the prevalence of and risk factors for HCV vertical transmission. Risk factors for HCV were carefully sought, and HCV viral load and genotype were determined in all positive mothers. The infants were tested for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV-RNA at birth and at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Results: Eight of 60 (13.3%) infants born to HCV-RNA positive mothers acquired HCV infection, but only 2 (3,3%) were still infected by the end of follow-up. Infants' genotypes matched that of the mothers. ALT levels were in the normal range in all study subjects throughout the follow-up. High maternal viral load (P <0.05), possession of HCV risk factors (P <0.004), and history of blood transfusion (P <0.05) were associated with increased risk of HCV vertical transmission. Conclusions: This long-term prospective study shows that, although vertical transmission from HIV-negative mothers occurs in 13% of cases, there is a high rate of spontaneous viral clearance (75%). High maternal viral load and mothers belonging to HCV risk categories were the only variables predictive of the vertical transmission.
AB - Background: Mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been extensively studied in mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, whereas fewer data are available on the vertical HCV transmission in HIV-negative women. Methods: Between January 1995 and June 1997, 78 consecutive HCV-positive/HIV-negative women with their offspring entered this prospective study aimed to define the prevalence of and risk factors for HCV vertical transmission. Risk factors for HCV were carefully sought, and HCV viral load and genotype were determined in all positive mothers. The infants were tested for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV-RNA at birth and at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Results: Eight of 60 (13.3%) infants born to HCV-RNA positive mothers acquired HCV infection, but only 2 (3,3%) were still infected by the end of follow-up. Infants' genotypes matched that of the mothers. ALT levels were in the normal range in all study subjects throughout the follow-up. High maternal viral load (P <0.05), possession of HCV risk factors (P <0.004), and history of blood transfusion (P <0.05) were associated with increased risk of HCV vertical transmission. Conclusions: This long-term prospective study shows that, although vertical transmission from HIV-negative mothers occurs in 13% of cases, there is a high rate of spontaneous viral clearance (75%). High maternal viral load and mothers belonging to HCV risk categories were the only variables predictive of the vertical transmission.
KW - HCV RNA titer
KW - HCV/HIV co-infection
KW - Hepatitis C virus
KW - Spontaneous viral clearance
KW - Vertical transmission
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U2 - 10.1097/00005176-200111000-00011
DO - 10.1097/00005176-200111000-00011
M3 - Article
C2 - 11740231
AN - SCOPUS:0035215055
VL - 33
SP - 570
EP - 575
JO - Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
JF - Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
SN - 0277-2116
IS - 5
ER -