Proposal of a step-wise follow-up for hepatitis C seropositive mothers and their infants

G V Zuccotti1, C Cucchi, M Torcoletti

  • 1Clinica Pediatrica dell'Università di Milano, Ospedale San Paolo, Milano. zuccottig@libero.it

Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C virus can take place in utero, during labour or after birth. Rate of vertical transmission varies widely between surveys but is around 5-6%. Maternal risk factors which may condition perinatal transmission risk are HIV/HCV coinfection, drug use, viral load, viral genotype, type of delivery and breastfeeding. On the basis of recent data, we propose a step-wise follow-up for HCV seropositive mothers and their infants. This proposal might represent an important occasion to unify behaviors in different Obstetrics-Gynecology and Neonatology Units.