Diagnostic and prognostic value of virologic tests in vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus infection: results of a large prospective study in pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the value of virologic tests for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmission in a large cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative pregnant women.


METHODS
HCV RNA and viral load were tested at the first and third trimester of pregnancy as well as at time of delivery, and from their newborns at birth and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Viral genotype was determined in both viremic mothers and newborns.


RESULTS
Antibodies to HCV were detected in 119 mothers (0.57%), whereas serum HCV RNA tested positive in 67% of them. Interestingly, presence of serum HCV RNA was only observed in 2 babies born to 80 HCV RNA-positive mothers (transmission rate: 2.4%), appearing immediately after birth and remaining positive during the entire follow-up (36 months). These two babies raised serum transaminase levels and had the same HCV genotype (1b) as their respective mothers who had intermediate or low viral load.


CONCLUSIONS
Vertical HCV transmission is an infrequent event among HIV-negative HCV-infected mothers, and the presence of serum HCV RNA immediately after birth had a high diagnostic and prognostic value, as identified those newborns who developed chronic hepatitis C.
Saez
Alicia
A
Hepatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Service of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Santa Cristina, Madrid, Spain.
Losa
Marina
M
Lo Iacono
Oreste
O
Lozano
Carlos
C
Alvarez
Eduardo
E
Pita
Luis
L
Garcia-Monzón
Carmelo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
D012367:RNA, Viral