title: [Hepatitis C and pregnancy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Today, the natural course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy and the prevalence of mother-to-child transmission are better known.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Antenatal screening for HCV infection needs to be proposed to women with risk factors. Viral replication needs to be confirmed by PCR in pregnant women with antibodies against HCV. To date, the clinical course of pregnancy and the mode of delivery have not been changed by HCV infection. Rates of vertical transmission of HCV are about 6% in women with HCV alone and 15% in women co-infected with HIV. A screening for HCV markers is required 18 months after delivery for infants born to HCV mothers. Because of the relatively low rate of HCV vertical transmission, pregnancy can be allowed in infected women. However, taking into account the efficacy of new antiviral strategies, treatment of HCV infection could be proposed before pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In case of HCV infection, a careful follow-up of both mother and newborns is required. Long-term follow-up of infected infants is needed to assess the consequences of perinatal HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, pavillon Dieulafoy, hôpital Purpan, CHU, place du Docteur-Baylac, 31057 Toulouse, France. alric.L@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alric
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costedoat
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duffaut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cacoub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Hépatite C et grossesse.