LOW-RATE OF HCV TRANSMISSION FROM WOMEN INFECTED WITH CONTAMINATED ANTI-D IMMUNOGLOBULIN TO THEIR FAMILY CONTACTS

Purpose: To analyse the spread of HCV infection from women infected wi th batch number proven contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin to their fam ily contacts. Patients and Methods: Index cases. Sixty women who had b een infected with hepatitis C after receiving HCV contaminated anti-D Immunoglobulin. All were positive for HCV antibodies by ELISA (Ortho & Murex ex, Abbott Laboratories) and RIBA3 (Chiron Corporation, Emervil le, California) and Mere viraemic by PCR for HCV-RNA (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Basel, Switzerland), Liver biopsies were performed in 45 pat ients. All were in stable longterm relationships. Contacts: Fifty-five partners and 170 children were tested for HCV antibodies by ELISA (Or tho, Murex). Any positive contact was also tested for antibody by RIBA -3, HCV RNA by PCR, genotype determined and also had a liver biopsy pe rformed. Results: No male partners and only one child tested positive for HCV antibodies indicating low exposure over a combined time period of 862 years for partners and 2465 years for children. Conclusions: T his study suggests a zero female to male sexual transmission rate of H CV and a low vertical transmission rate in anti-D associated HCV infec tion.