Intrafamily transmission of hepatitis C virus: sexual and non-sexual contacts.
METHODS
As a high number of patients with antibodies to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) do not have a known history of parenteral acquisition, other non-parenteral means of hepatitis C virus transmission must be studied. We investigated 1451 household contacts of 535 anti-HCV positive, human immunodeficiency virus-negative index patients.


RESULTS
Overall, the prevalence of anti-HCV in household contacts was 4.5%. Thirty (7.6%) out of the 394 heterosexual stable partners were anti-HCV positive as compared to 35 (3.3%) out of 1057 non-sexual contacts (p < 0.01). The prevalence of anti-HCV was lowest in children of the index cases (1.8%). In this group, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 3% (10/330) when the mother was the index case, as opposed to 0.6% (2/328) when the father was the index case (p < 0.05). The prevalence of anti-HCV increased with age, being highest (18.6%) in family contacts older than 60 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Transmission of hepatitis C virus may occur among household contacts of anti-HCV positive patients. Sexual contact or the use of non-disposable medical material in the past might explain the higher prevalence of anti-HCV found in sexual partners and in family contacts older than 60 years of age. Anti-HCV screening should be performed in family contacts of anti-HCV positive patients, particularly in those contacts older than 20.
Diago
M
M
Hepatology Section Hospital General University, Valencia, Spain.
Zapater
R
R
Tuset
C
C
Carbonell
P
P
Gonzalez
C
C
Cors
R
R
Casas
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies