Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus

Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) of Hepatitis C Virus and Spontaneous Viral Clearance in Infected Children: a Retrospective Study.

Vertical HCV Transmission has been extensively studied, with a risk around 5% (range: 3 to 10%). Spontaneous viral clearance in infected children during childhood can occur, but data about this phenomenon are scarse, justifying the study.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) has been extensively studied, with a risk around 5% (range: 3 to 10%) from chronically infected pregnant women with a positive HCV RNA during pregnancy. Risk factors include: HCV RNA load level, HIV-HCV co-infection, duration of labour, HCV genotype, child gender, and invasive procedures either during pregnancy or at birth. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) mainly occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy or at birth or around the birth (El-Shabrawi et al., World Journal of Gastroenterology 2013). Currently, using caesarian section to reduce the risk of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) is still debated and not recommended in International Guidelines (EASL 2012). Spontaneous viral clearance in infected children during childhood seems to occur in 20% of cases, with predisposing genetic factors (Ruiz-Extremera A et al. Hepatology 2011 ; 53 : 1830-1838) but data about this phenomenon are scarse (Rerksuppaphol S et al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2004), justifying the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• HCV chronically infected pregnant women
• with a positive HCV RNA
• who gave birth in the Maternity Department, Lariboisiere Hospital, Paris, France

Exclusion Criteria:

• negative HCV RNA during pregnancy
• acute HCV infection during pregnancy (previous negative HCV test during pregnancy)
• MTCT not to be tested (early child death for instance)