Low incidence of hepatitis C virus transmission between spouses: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
Interspousal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been documented; however, the annual risk of interspousal transmission remains unclear.


METHODS
A long-term prospective study to define the risk of interspousal transmission of HCV was conducted. One hundred and twelve index patients with chronic hepatitis C and their anti-HCV seronegative spouses were enrolled.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up period was 45.9 months. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and HCV-RNA were tested for in each seronegative spouse every year. Seroconversion of anti-HCV occurred in only one spouse, 2 years after enrollment, with a concomitant acute hepatitis. This subject and his spouse were infected with HCV genotype 1b. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the hypervariable region of their HCV genomes showed a homology of 98%. Further phylogenetic analysis suggested that they had virtually the same isolate. Accordingly, the annual risk of interspousal transmission of HCV infection was 0.23% per year.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest a low incidence of interspousal transmission of HCV; however, the risk may be cumulative and such couples should be educated to avoid HCV infection from their spouses.
Kao
J H
JH
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei.
Liu
C J
CJ
Chen
P J
PJ
Chen
W
W
Lai
M Y
MY
Chen
D S
DS
D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018454:Spouses
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral