HIV-HCV co-infection during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals in the United States and in Western Europe. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in the management of HIV-HCV co-infected women during pregnancy and to report the rates of HIV and HCV vertical transmission in this particular population.


METHODS
This is a prospective study including all HIV-HCV coinfected women who delivered in the major public hospital of Genoa from April 1990 to December 2002. The method of delivery and breastfeeding habits were recorded. The babies were monitored at the paediatric referral centre.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine HIV-HCV co-infected pregnant women were included in the analysis, 2 of these women delivered twice during the study period. The mean age (+/-SD) of this population at delivery was 30.4+/-4.9 years. Thirty-four (87.2%) HIV-HCV co-infected women had a history of intravenous drug use. Seventeen (43.5%) women reported regular alcohol intake during pregnancy. Forty-one infants were born during the study period. There was no case of HIV-vertical transmission in our population. Thirty-six (87.8%) of 41 babies were born to women with positive HCV-RNA. Two babies (4.9%) were HCV-infected.


CONCLUSIONS
The improved prognosis for HIV-infected people has increased the desire of parenthood. There is no evidence to support advising against pregnancy in HIV-HCV co-infected women.
Ferrero
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Genoa, San Martino Hospital, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy. simone.ferrero@fastwebnet.it
Bertoldi
S
S
Lungaro
P
P
Nicoletti
A
A
Gotta
C
C
Bentivoglio
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011446:Prospective Studies