SEROPREVALENCE AND MOTHER-TO-INFANT TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS-C IN ASYMPTOMATIC EGYPTIAN WOMEN

Objectives. In this study, we sought to determine (1) the prevalence o f hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, or its antibodies, in a healthy parturi ent Egyptian population and (2) the risk of mother-to-infant transmiss ion in this population. Method. The serum of 499 pregnant Egyptian wom en was tested for anti-HCV with ELISA-3 and for HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Neonatal cord blood and infant blood were simila rly tested for anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Results. Recombinant immunoblot a ssay (RIBA) detected anti-HCV in 65/499 (13%) women; of these, 20/65 ( 31%) were PCR-positive. The total number of babies born was 499. Of th e original group, 97 mothers and infants (HCV-negative) were lost to f ollow up and were excluded. Sixty-five anti-HCV-positive infants were born vaginally to the 65 anti-HCV-positive mothers, of which twenty (3 1%) corresponding mothers and babies were also positive for HCV RNA. O f these twenty babies, three died of hepatocellular disease by six mon ths of age; sixteen developed chronic liver disease; the remaining nin e remained asymptomatic but were serologically and PCR-positive. The m other-to-infant transmission rate was significantly increased (5%; P<0 .0001). Of the seropositive children, 45/65 (69%; P<0.0001) serorevert ed by eighteen months of age. Conclusion. There is a high prevalence o f anti-HCV in healthy pregnant Egyptian women and vertical transmissio n is a major risk for chronic HCV carriers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.