title: Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: The role of sexual transmission in the diffusion of HCV infection, was studied through the seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the heterosexual habitual partners of 83 anti-HCV positive subjects. The index cases were represented by 10 dialysed subjects, 31 patients with chronic liver disease and 42 healthy carriers. Seroprevalence of anti-HCV positivity reported in partners was 8.43%, with a higher rate in cohabitants of patients with chronic liver disease (16.12% vs 4.76% of carriers); no case was found among partners of dialysed subjects Laboratory and ultrasonograph signs of chronic hepatitis were reported in 3 cases (3.61%). Control on 70% of the cohabitants' relatives, was negative for HCV infections. These data suggest a possible sexual transmission of HCV infection, even if its prevalence resulted modest, undoubtedly lower than in other disease sexually transmitted.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Nefrologia e Dialisi, OORR, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scotto
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Savastano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tantimonaco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology