Pregnancy and hepatitis C virus infection

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and bioche mical aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy and aft er delivery, and to differentiate the outcome of pregnancy between HCV RNA- positive and -negative women. Methods The study involved 10 120 consecutive pregnant women screened in th e Obstetric Department for High Risk Pregnancy at the University of Padua, Italy, between 1992 and 1998. Each woman underwent the following: serologic al screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV serum markers (an ti-HCV antibodies, HCV RNA, viral load), platelet-associated IgG and serum bindable anti-platelet IgC, and antibodies to the human immunodeficiency vi rus. Results Of the 10 120 pregnant women, 115 (1.13%) tested positive for the p resence of anti-HCV antibodies. Of the 115 anti-HCV antibody-positive mothe rs observed at initial screening, 68 (59.1%) were found to be positive for HCV RNA, the remaining 47 (40.9%) being HCV RNA-negative. Four of the 68 HC V RNA-positive women incurred stillbirth (5.9%); the remaining 64 HCV RNA-p ositive mothers gave birth to 68 babies, including four sets of twins. Conclusions There is no risk to pregnancy outcome in HCV RNA-positive and - negative mothers. Pregnancy does not induce a deterioration of liver diseas e and HCV infection does not increase the risk of obstetric complications.