High rate of hepatitis C virus transmission to spouses from hepatitis patients with a history of transfusion

Abstract Spouses of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic chronic hepatitis patients were tested for antibodies to the core region-derived synthetic oligopeptides and for antibodies detectable by the second-generation enzyme immunoassay, and HCV RNA was determined in those who were positive for at least one of the above antibodies (anti-HCV). The prevalences of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were both significantly higher in 37 spouses of patients with a history of transfusion than in 55 spouses of patients with no such history: 49% vs. 16% for anti-HCV ( P ) and 41% vs. 5% for HCV RNA ( P ). Anti-HCV was detected in 11 (65%) of 17 spouses who had been married longer than 30 years since the patients received the transfusion, with an incidence significantly higher than in four (20%) of 20 spouses with exposure durations less than 30 years ( P ), and HCV RNA was positive in 11 (65%) of the formers, the incidence being significantly greater than in four (20%) of the latter ( P ). HCV-infected patients, in particular with a history of blood transfusion, are thus possible HCV transmission sources for their spouses, with the risk increasing with the duration of marriage, pointing to a need for follow-up not only for posttransfusion hepatitis C patients, but also for early diagnosis and treatment of their spouses.