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Published on: July 16, 2012
Hepatitis C virus infection in spouses of patients with type C chronic liver disease
Insights
Spouses of individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection show increased risk for HCV acquisition, particularly with longer marriages. Routine screening for HCV markers and liver disease is recommended for these spouses.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses significant public health challenges, often affecting household contacts.
- Understanding transmission dynamics within families is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of HCV infection markers among spouses of patients diagnosed with HCV-related chronic liver disease.
- To assess the correlation between marriage duration and the risk of HCV infection in spouses.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving serologic and molecular analyses of spouses of HCV-viremic patients.
- Utilized enzyme immunoassays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes.
Main Results:
- HCV antibodies were detected in 27% of spouses, with 16% also testing positive for HCV RNA.
- The presence of HCV infection markers in spouses correlated positively with the duration of their marriage.
- A small percentage of spouses without detectable antibodies still presented with chronic liver disease.
Conclusions:
- Spouses of individuals with HCV viremia and chronic liver disease are at an elevated risk of acquiring HCV infection.
- The risk of HCV transmission to spouses increases proportionally with the length of the marriage.
- Regular monitoring for HCV infection markers and liver disease is advised for these high-risk individuals.
Objective:
Survey for markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in spouses of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease.
Design:
Cross-sectional clinical, serologic, and molecular biological study of spouses of patients with HCV viremia and chronic liver disease.
Setting:
University and city hospitals.
Participants:
Spouses (52 men and 102 women; mean age, 56 +/- 11 years) of 154 patients with HCV viremia (102 men and 52 women; mean age, 58 +/- 10 years), of whom 66 had chronic hepatitis, 49 had liver cirrhosis, and 39 had primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods:
Tests for HCV-associated antibodies were done using a second-generation enzyme immunoassay and immunoassays with synthetic oligopeptides deduced from the HCV core gene. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction with primers deduced from the 5'-noncoding region and HCV genotypes by reaction with type-specific primers deduced from the HCV core gene.
Results:
Hepatitis C virus-associated antibodies were detected in 42 (27%) spouses, of whom 25 were also positive for HCV RNA. Of 112 (73%) spouses without detectable antibodies, 2 had chronic liver disease. The development of markers of HCV infection in spouses increased with the duration of marriage, ranging from 1 to 60 years (30 +/- 11 years).
Conclusions:
Spouses of patients with HCV viremia and chronic liver disease have an increased risk for acquiring HCV, which is proportional to the duration of marriage. They should be followed routinely for markers of HCV infection and liver disease.
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