[Detection of hepatitis C virus markers in colostrum].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possibility of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission through lactation by detection of HCV markers in colostrum.


METHODS
Anti-HCV IgG, anti-HCV IgA and anti-HCV IgM antibodies in colostrum and sera were detected by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and HCV RNA was tested by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction simultaneously.


RESULTS
Among 35 samples of colostrum from puerperants with anti-HCV IgG-positive sera, anti-HCV IgA, anti-HCV IgG, and anti-HCV IgM were detected in 19, 6 and 1 samples respectively. Fourteen of the 35 sera samples were HCV RNA-positive, and only 2 of colostrum samples showed HCV RNA-positive. A significant difference (P < 0.01) was found between the HCV RNA positive rates of sera and colostrum.


CONCLUSIONS
IgA was the predominant anti-HCV antibodies in the colostrum from puerperants with anti-HCV IgG-positive sera. The HCV RNA-positive rate of sera was markedly higher than that of colostrum. It is presumed that puerperants with anti-HCV IgG-positive sera, especially those with both anti-HCV IgA-positive and HCV RNA-positive colostrum, are most likely to transmit HCV through lactation and cause their infants to be infected by HCV.
Xiong
H
H
General Hospital of Nanjing Command, Center of Medical Laboratory Science of PLA.
Li
B
B
Wu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003126:Colostrum / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D012367:RNA, Viral