Low risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied between 104 anti-HCV positive index cases (99 haemophilic men, five women) who have attended the Oxford Haemophilia Centre and 104 (98 female, 6 male) longstanding sexual partners. Ninety-one percent of the index cases were HCV RNA positive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of medical virology Vol. 40; no. 3; p. 251
Main Authors Hallam, N F, Fletcher, M L, Read, S J, Majid, A M, Kurtz, J B, Rizza, C R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1993
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
England - epidemiology
Female
Hemophilia A - complications
Hepacivirus - genetics
Hepacivirus - immunology
Hepatitis Antibodies - blood
Hepatitis B - complications
Hepatitis C - complications
Hepatitis C - epidemiology
Hepatitis C - transmission
Hepatitis C Antibodies
HIV Infections - complications
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Sexual Partners
England
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Summary:Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied between 104 anti-HCV positive index cases (99 haemophilic men, five women) who have attended the Oxford Haemophilia Centre and 104 (98 female, 6 male) longstanding sexual partners. Ninety-one percent of the index cases were HCV RNA positive by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 56% were anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. Three (2.9%) sexual partners (each a female partner of a different HCV RNA positive haemophilic man) were anti-HCV, and HCV RNA, positive. All had other risk factors for HCV infection. Of 59 partners who were tested for anti-HIV four (7%) were positive and only one of these was also anti-HCV positive. There was no association between HIV positivity in the index cases and HCV positivity in their partners. Our results confirm a low risk of sexual transmission of HCV.
ISSN:0146-6615
DOI:10.1002/jmv.1890400315