The low risk of hepatitis C virus transmission among sexual partners of hepatitis C-infected hemophilic males: an international, multicenter study.
To study the transmission rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the female sexual partners of antibody-positive hemophilic males, 106 partners from three hemophilia centers located in Europe, America, and Australia were tested for HCV seropositivity using a first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-1) and, subsequently, a second-generation ELISA (ELISA-2) and a supplemental recombinant immunoblot assay. Additionally, the cohort was tested for the presence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 and hepatitis B virus markers. No female partner was HCV antibody-positive using the ELISA-1 test, whereas five were seropositive by the ELISA-2 test. Three of these five female partners were seropositive on the supplemental test, the remaining two having indeterminate results, for an overall prevalence of 2.7%. Thus, even with the use of sensitive testing, the prevalence of HCV infection remains low in this cohort, showing that the efficiency of heterosexual transmission of HCV is poor.
Brettler
D B
DB
Department of Medicine, Medical Center of Central Massachusetts, Worcester 01605.
Mannucci
P M
PM
Gringeri
A
A
Rasko
J E
JE
Forsberg
A D
AD
Rumi
M G
MG
Garsia
R J
RJ
Rickard
K A
KA
Colombo
M
M
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000628:therapy*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies