High prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus among family members of patients with anti-HCV-positive chronic liver disease.
We have evaluated the intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by studying 1) the 107 household contacts of 43 patients with chronic HCV liver disease, 2) the household contacts of 30 anti-HCV-positive donors without liver disease, and 3) 3108 blood donors. We also studied the possible manner of the intrafamilial transmission. The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in the families of index patients was significantly higher than in donors (14.9% as against to 1.7%). All the family members of the anti-HCV-positive donors were anti-HCV negative. We conclude that the person-to-person transmission of HCV is possible and most probable in contacts of anti-HCV-positive patients with liver disease.
Buscarini
E
E
I Division of Medicine, Hospital of Piacenza, Italy.
Tanzi
E
E
Zanetti
A R
AR
Savi
E
E
Sbolli
G
G
Civardi
G
G
Di Stasi
M
M
Fornari
F
F
Buscarini
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies