title: [Familial infection by the hepatitis C virus].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the relatives of cases of asymptomatic chronic hepatitis C infection, detected during routine blood donation, and determine risk factors for the presence of the infection in the family setting. Two hundred and eighty-five relatives (spouses, offspring, siblings and parents) of 87 index cases were studied. Anti-HCV was detected using second generation ELISA and RIBA tests. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV in the studied population was 6.7%, higher in spouses (11.7%) and lower in the offspring (2.1%). The presence of HCV RNA was detected in 12 of 45 index cases, using nested PCR. No increased risk of infection was found in the relatives of cases with HCV-RNA positivity. Using a logistic regression model, four factors were identified as significantly associated with an increased risk of hepatitis C in the relatives: the age of the index case, and, as characteristics of the relatives, male gender, past or ongoing hepatitis B virus infection, and being a spouse of an index case.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Geral de Santo António, Porto.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
vernacular_title: Infecção familiar pelo vírus da hepatite C.