Infection with hepatitis C virus among HIV-infected pregnant women in Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV among a cohort of pregnant Thai women.


METHODS
Samples from 1771 pregnant women enrolled in three vertical transmission of HIV studies in Bangkok, Thailand, were tested for HCV.


RESULTS
Among HIV-infected pregnant women, HCV seroprevelance was 3.8% and the active HCV infection rate was 3.0%. Among HIV-uninfected pregnant women, 0.3% were HCV-infected. Intravenous drug use by the woman was the factor most strongly associated with HCV seropositivity. Among 48 infants tested for HCV who were born to HIV/HCV coinfected women, two infants were HCV infected for an HCV transmission rate of 4.2% (95% 0.51-14.25%).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV seroprevalence and perinatal transmission rates were low among this Thai cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women.
Jamieson
Denise J
DJ
Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. djj0@cdc.gov
Skunodom
Natapakwa
N
Chaowanachan
Thanyanan
T
Roongpisuthipong
Anuvat
A
Bower
William A
WA
Chotpitayasunondh
Tawee
T
Bhanich Supapol
Wendy
W
Kuhnert
Wendi L
WL
Siriwasin
Wimol
W
Wiener
Jeffrey
J
Chearskul
Sanay
S
McConnell
Michelle S
MS
Shaffer
Nathan
N
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies