Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus from Mothers to Infants

Background Although there are case reports of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), it remains uncertain to what extent infected mothers transmit this virus to their infants. Methods We investigated the transmission of HCV from infected mothers to their babies by analyzing HCV RNA in the blood. Three independent studies were performed. First, 7698 parturient women were tested for anti-HCV antibodies; 53 were positive. Their 54 infants (including one set of twins) were followed prospectively for at least six months and tested for HCV infection. Second, the babies of six women with known HCV disease were prospectively studied. Third, the families of three HCV-infected infants were examined retrospectively. Results Of the 53 antibody-positive mothers, 31 were also positive for serum HCV RNA. Three of the 54 babies born to these mothers (5.6 percent) became positive for HCV RNA during the follow-up period. None of the babies of the 22 women who were antibody-positive but HCV RNA-negative became po...