Anti-HCV positivity in sexual partners and offspring of patient with chronic hepatitis C

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 40; no. 6-7; pp. 533 - 537
• Main Authors: Ayk n, Nevil, Cev k, Figen, Dem rturk, Nese, Dem rdal, Tuna, Orhan, Semiha, Naz, Hasan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 2008; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Family Health; Female; Hepacivirus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - epidemiology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - immunology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - transmission; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; RNA, Viral - blood; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sexual Partners; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Infection; Virus; Human; Microbiology; Viral disease; Sex partner; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Flaviviridae; Hepatitis C virus; Hepacivirus; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0036-5548; 1651-1980
• DOI: 10.1080/00365540701867313

We investigated the seroprevalence of HCV in stable sexual partners and offspring of chronic hepatitis C patients, and aimed to determine the risk factors involved. 191 anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive subjects who coinhabited with their spouse and/or offspring were included. Risk factors of index cases for disease transmission, liver biopsy results, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in spouses and/or offspring were evaluated. Together with index cases, a total of 404 family members including 174 stable sexual partners and 230 offspring were included. The most common risk factors among index cases were dental procedures (73.8%), history of surgery (64.9%), and blood transfusions (24.1%). Anti-HCV positivity was established in 11 (2.7%) of the total 404 family contacts - 6 sexual partners and 5 offspring. HCV seropositivity was significantly higher in the spouses of index cases with severe hepatitis C compared to those with mild to moderate hepatitis C (p = 0.008), but there was no statistically significant correlation between the severity of liver disease in index cases and anti-HCV positivity in their offspring. In conclusion, anti-HCV seropositivity in the spouses and children of patients who are HCV-RNA positive HCV carriers does not appear to be higher than the HCV seroprevalence in our country.