[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant woman on the island of Réunion].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective study was to assess the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a population of pregnant women in Réunion.


METHODS
Over a 6-month period, all blood samples of pregnant women who delivered at a hospital in the south of Réunion were tested with a third generation enzyme-linked immunoassay. In addition, risk factors for hepatitis C transmission were systematically looked for.


RESULTS
Among the 1,455 women tested during this period, only 2 sera were found to be positive, resulting in a prevalence of 0.14%. One of these women had a history of intravenous drug use, whereas the other had no identified risk factor. This low prevalence was found to be associated with a low frequency of risk factors of C virus infection in this population: a history of transfusion and intravenous drug use was found in 2.9% and 0.21% of cases, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection is particularly low in Réunion. This low prevalence is explained by the rarity of risk factors for hepatitis C transmission in this region which is close to the African continent and has a similar high prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection.
Faulques
B
B
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Centre Hospitalier Régional Sud Réunion, Saint-Pierre.
Michault
A
A
Sevidjian
B
B
Barau
G
G
Pawlotsky
J M
JM
Dhumeaux
D
D
D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D017508:Reunion; D012307:Risk Factors
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
Prévalence de l'infection virale C chez les femmes enceintes à l'île de la Réunion.