HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN FAMILY SETTING

To evaluate risk factors associated with intrafamiliar transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), 113 hepatitis C virus index subjects with ch ronic HCV infection and their 267 family contacts were studied from Ja nuary 1994 to October 1995. Overall, 16 family contacts (6%) were posi tive for anti-HCV by ELISA II generation. The prevalence was 11.3% in spouses and 2.9% in other relatives (odds ratios: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.4-12. 6). Spouses who had been married to the index cases longer than 20 yea rs had a 7.5-fold risk (95% CI: 1.0-336.3) of HCV seropositivity as co mpared to those married less than 20 years. In univariate analysis HCV seropositivity was associated with surgical intervention, use of glas s syringes and hospitalization. The results of multivariate logistic a nalysis showed that any parenteral exposure (odds ratios: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2-12.8)and sexual contact with an anti-HCV index case (odds ratios: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.0-9.4) were both in dependent predictors of HCV seropo sitivity among household contacts of HCV positive index cases. These f indings indicate that sexual contact and any parenteral exposure both play an independent role in the spread of HCV infection in the family setting.