Possible role of high-titer maternal viremia in perinatal transmission of hepatitis c virus
Journal
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal Volume
169
Journal Issue
3
Pages
638-641
Date Issued
1994
Author(s)
Hwang L.-H.
Hwang S.-C.
Abstract
To study perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), 15 anti-HCV-positive carrier mothers without human immunodeficiency virus coinfection were recruited. At delivery, maternal blood was taken and anti-HCV titer was determined and HCV RNA measured in each serum sample by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A competitive PCR was used in selected samples to quantitate HCV concentration. The 15 neonates were followed regularly for 1 year and their sera were also assayed for anti-HCV and for HCV RNA by reverse transcription PCR. All the mothers were positive for HCV RNA. Only one normal spontaneously delivered neonate of a mother with extremely high titer of anti-HCV (1:20, 000) and HCV concentration (1010 copies/ml.) had both anti-HCV and HCV RNA in serum for up to 6 months of age. In contrast, none of the remaining 14 neonates born to mothers with low- to high-titer anti-HCV (1:4-1:1000) and moderate amounts of HCV RNA (105-106 copies/ml.) contracted HCV infection. The results imply that high-titer maternal viremia and normal spontaneous delivery may allow more HCV to infect the neonate intrapartum, therefore establishing perinatal transmission. ? 1994 by The University of Chicago.
SDGs
Other Subjects
maternal antibody; antibody titer; article; clinical article; female; hepatitis c; hepatitis c virus; human; human cell; human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; maternal blood; maternal morbidity; newborn; newborn infection; perinatal infection; priority journal; viremia; Base Sequence; Carrier State; DNA, Viral; Female; Hepatitis C; Human; Infant, Newborn; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Taiwan; Viremia
Type
journal article