Outcome of infants born to hepatitis C infected women.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted vertically from mother to infant, either late in pregnancy or at delivery.

AIMS:

To determine the outcome of infants born to HCV infected women, to characterise epidemiology and to design an appropriate infant monitoring schedule.

METHODS:

Three hundred and fourteen infants, born to 296 HCV positive women between 1994 and 1999 were monitored for a median of 18 months (range 1-52).

RESULTS:

Forty per cent of infants were small for age and 46% had neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Of 173 infants of defined status, 11 were infected (vertical transmission rate [VTR] 6.4%, 95% CI 2.8-10). Infected infants were diagnosed at a median of three months (range 0.5-10). Liver transaminases elevation was documented in 8% of uninfected infants. A negative HCV PCR test before one month of age did not exclude infection but all infected patients had detectable HCV RNA when next tested (range 2-10 months).

CONCLUSIONS:

94% of infants born to HCV antibody positive women are not HIV infected. Liver transaminase elevation in exposed infants is not always indicative of infection. A minimum monitoring schedule of testing (PCR and antibody) at six to eight weeks, six and 18 months allows early diagnosis while detecting late seroconversions.

• Authors: C M Healy, M T Cafferkey, A Conroy, S Dooley, W W Hall, M Beckett, T A Clarke, M J White, W A Gorman, K M Butler
• Journal: Irish journal of medical science (Ir J Med Sci) 2001 Apr-Jun Vol. 170 Issue 2 Pg. 103-6; discussion 92-3 ISSN: 0021-1265 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 11491043 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Delivery, Obstetric
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hepatitis C (diagnosis, epidemiology, transmission)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
• Male
• Prospective Studies