Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hepatitis C infection in an Irish antenatal population

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C infection (HCV) has an estimated seroprevalence of 1–2% in women of child-bearing age and vertical transmission rate of 5–15%.

Aims

To characterise the current trends of HCV in an Irish antenatal population.

Methods

Infants of HCV seropositive women, born 1994 to 1999, were referred to the Paediatric Infectious Diseases service. Maternal details were collected retrospectively.

Results

296 HCV seropositive women were studied. 244 (82%) were infected through intravenous drug use (IVDU), 25 (8%) through heterosexual contact and 13 (7%) via blood products. Nine women had no identifiable risk factors. Coinfection with other blood borne viruses was uncommon (4.7% HIV, 3.4% hepatitis B). Of 84 women tested for HCV-RNA, 48 (55%) were positive. Eighty, three (28%) delivered prematurely; the caesarean secion rate was 11%.

Conclusions

HCV is increasingly detected in antenatal clinics. Heterosexual contact is a mode of spread. Maternal HCV viraemia can be variable in pregnancy. Further study of HCV in pregnancy is needed to define the impact of pregnancy on HCV, accurately predict infant outcome and selectively target interventions to women at greatest risk of transmission.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Hepatitis C. In: Peter G, ed. 1997 Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 24th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL:American Academy of Pediatrics; 1997: (260–4)

  2. Thomas DL, Zenilman JM, Alter HJ et al., Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus among patients attending sexually transmitted diseases clinics in Baltimore — an analysis of 309 sex partnerships.J. Infect. Dis. 1995 Apr; 171(4): 768–75

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Alter MJ, Coleman PJ, Alexander WJ et al., Importance of heterosexual activity in the transmission of hepatitis B and non-A, non-B hepatitis.JAMA 1989 Sep 1; 262 (9): 201–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Osmond DH, Padian NS, Sheppard HW et al., Risk factors for hepatitis C seropositivity in heterosexual couples.JAMA 1993; 269: 361–5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Healy M, Cafferkey M, Beckett M et al. Characteristics of infants of hepatitis C infected mothers in the Republic of Ireland. 3rd Spring Meeting, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of York 12–15 April 1999; Abstract P25

  6. Gibb DM, Goodall RL, Butler K et al. Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus: evidence for preventable peripartum transmission.Lancet 2000; 356: 904–7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Davidson F. et al. Survey of major genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus using RFLP of sequences amplified from the 5′ non-coding region.Journal of General Virology (1995) 76, 1197–1204.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Resti M; Azzari C; Mannelli F et al. Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus: prospective study of risk factors and timing of infection in children born to women seronegative for HIV-1. Tuscany Study Group on Hepatitis C Virus Infection.BMJ. 317(7156): 437–41, 1998 Aug. 15.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Hepatitis C virus infection.Pediatrics 1998; 101: 481–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tovo PA, Palomba E, Ferraris G et al. Increased risk of maternal-infant hepatitis C virus transmission for women coinfectedwith human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Italian study Group for HCV Infection in Children.Clin Infect Dis 1997; 25: 1121–4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Thomas SL, Newel ML, Peckham CS, Ades AE, Hall AJ. A review of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmission: risks of transmission to infants born with and without HCV viraemia or human immunodeficiency virus infection.Int J Epidemiol 1998; 27: 108–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dore GJ, Kaldor JM, McGaughan WM. Systematic review of role of polymerase chain reaction in defining infectiousness among people infected with hepatitis C virus.BMJ 1997; 315: 333–37.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Smyth BP, Keenan E, O’Connor JJ. Bloodborne viral infection in Irish injecting drug users.Addiction 1998; 93: 1649–56

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dorman A, Keenan E, Schuttler C, Merry J, O’Connor JJ. HIV risk behaviour in Irish intravenous drug users.Ir J Med Sci Oct–Dec 1997, 166(4) 235–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rotunda Hospital, Dublin

    C. M. Healy, M. T. Cafferkey, M. Beckett, R. Mackey, T. A. Clarke & K. M. Butler

  2. Coombe Women’s Hospital, Dublin

    M. J. White

  3. National Maternity Hospital, Holles St., Dublin

    W. A. Gorman

  4. The Children’s Hospital, Temple St, Dublin

    C. M. Healy, M. T. Cafferkey, T. A. Clarke & K. M. Butler

  5. Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12

    M. J. White, W. A. Gorman & K. M. Butler

  6. Virus Reference Laboratory, University College, Dublin, Ireland

    A. Conroy, S. Dooley & W. W. Hall

Authors
  1. C. M. Healy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. T. Cafferkey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Conroy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Dooley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. W. Hall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Beckett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Mackey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. T. A. Clarke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. M. J. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. W. A. Gorman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. K. M. Butler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Healy, C.M., Cafferkey, M.T., Conroy, A. et al. Hepatitis C infection in an Irish antenatal population. Ir J Med Sci 169, 180–182 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167691

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167691

Keywords

Search

Navigation