title: Low risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied between 104 anti-HCV positive index cases (99 haemophilic men, five women) who have attended the Oxford Haemophilia Centre and 104 (98 female, 6 male) longstanding sexual partners. Ninety-one percent of the index cases were HCV RNA positive by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 56% were anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. Three (2.9%) sexual partners (each a female partner of a different HCV RNA positive haemophilic man) were anti-HCV, and HCV RNA, positive. All had other risk factors for HCV infection. Of 59 partners who were tested for anti-HIV four (7%) were positive and only one of these was also anti-HCV positive. There was no association between HIV positivity in the index cases and HCV positivity in their partners. Our results confirm a low risk of sexual transmission of HCV.
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Public Health Laboratory, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rizza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies