European paediatric hepatitis C virus network - Antenatal hepatitis C virus screening and management of infected women and their children: policies in Europe

A postal survey of 31 European centres was conducted to document current pr actices regarding screening and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infec ted pregnant women and their children. Antenatal HCV prevalence was low. Un iversal antenatal screening programmes were in place in ten centres, select ive screening occurred in ten other centres, two did not specify the type o f policy, and there was no screening programme in nine centres. Numbers of HCV-infected children were low. Breastfeeding was recommended for infants o f infected mothers in ten centres, discouraged in ten centres, in three cen tres women were merely informed of the risks, and there were no guidelines in eight centres. Polymerase chain reaction was available in all centres. I n 17 centres children born to HCV-infected women were seen every 3 months f or at least the 1st year. Conclusion The optimum antenatal hepatitis C virus screening approach and t he appropriateness of breastfeeding recommendations are unclear and this su rvey highlights the lack of uniformity in current practice.