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Hepatitis C in Pregnancy

Pratima Dibba1, Rosann Cholankeril2, Andrew A Li3

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Women & Infants Hospital/Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02905, USA. pratima_dibba@brown.edu.

Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C in pregnancy, affecting up to 3.6%, poses risks to mothers and infants. Vertical transmission is low, but risks increase with HIV co-infection or high viral load, impacting infant long-term health.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects pregnant individuals, with prevalence up to 3.6% in some cohorts.
  • Vertical transmission rates of HCV range from 0.2% to 0.4% in the US and Europe.
  • HCV in pregnancy is linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including potential long-term infant complications like cirrhosis and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the implications of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy.
  • To understand the risks and outcomes associated with vertical transmission of HCV.
  • To discuss diagnostic methods and infant follow-up for HCV in the context of pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Hepatitis C prevalence in pregnancy.
  • Analysis of data on vertical transmission rates and risk factors.
  • Summary of diagnostic criteria and infant testing protocols for HCV.

Main Results:

  • HCV screening is not universally recommended but understanding its impact is crucial due to associated adverse outcomes.
  • Increased risk of vertical transmission is observed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection and high maternal HCV viral load.
  • Certain intrapartum events like premature rupture of membranes and invasive procedures may elevate transmission risk, while breastfeeding does not.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C in pregnancy necessitates careful management due to potential adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
  • Infants born to HCV-positive mothers require specific testing protocols for HCV RNA.
  • While prevention is challenging, future therapeutic strategies involving direct-acting antivirals may offer improved management options.

Keywords:
hepatitis C virus infectionpregnancy

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