title: [Familial transmission of hepatitis C virus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus infection was assessed in the family members of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of serum anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and epidemiological features were studied in 193 relatives (104 heterosexual partners, 89 children) of 113 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The presence of serum anti-HCV antibodies was detected by an ELISA 2 test and confirmed by a RIBA 2 test. In all patients, liver injury was ascertained by biopsy (31 cirrhosis, 82 chronic active hepatitis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of 104 (10.6%) regular heterosexual partners were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. In 8 of these, risk factors were detected (drug addiction: n = 6, blood transfusion: n = 1, occupational exposure: n = 1). Only 3 of 96 (3.2%) regular heterosexual partners without percutaneous risk factors were positive for HCV. Among couples with heterosexual partners negative for anti-HCV antibodies, the mean duration of the sexual relationship was 12 years. Serum anti-HCV antibodies were present in 1 of 89 (1.1%) children without history of blood transfusion or drug addiction. None of the 35 children born after supposed maternal contamination were positive for serum anti-HCV antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the prevalence of serum anti-HCV antibodies, assessed with second generation tests, in sexual partners of patients with chronic hepatitis C, is lower than previously reported with first generation anti-HCV tests but higher than in the general population (3.2% vs approximately equal to 1%). Serum anti-HCV antibodies were very rarely detected in children from patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, Montpellier.
authors.forename: X R
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pageaux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desprez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lemaire
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tognarelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Larrey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners
vernacular_title: Transmission familiale du virus de l'hépatite C.