Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) does occur in a lower efficiency way(0-15%,average in 4.7%)in infants of HCV viremic mothers than that of hepatitis B virus. It is very likely due to the lower viral level of mothers. Infants of mothers coinfected by HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or with high HCV RNA titer (>10^6 copies/ml) are at high risk of HCV infection by their mothers. Persistence of HCV infection with transient or persistent abnormal aminotransferase levels occurred in most(81%) HCV infected infants studied longitudimally, although normal liver function profile was also observed. Up to now, no effective way can prevent mother-to-infant transmission of HCV. Further investigation to understand more the natural history of infants perinatally infected by HCV and the indication for antiviral therapies are needed.
Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) does occur in a lower efficiency way(0-15%,average in 4.7%)in infants of HCV viremic mothers than that of hepatitis B virus. It is very likely due to the lower viral level of mothers. Infants of mothers coinfected by HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or with high HCV RNA titer (>10^6 copies/ml) are at high risk of HCV infection by their mothers. Persistence of HCV infection with transient or persistent abnormal aminotransferase levels occurred in most(81%) HCV infected infants studied longitudimally, although normal liver function profile was also observed. Up to now, no effective way can prevent mother-to-infant transmission of HCV. Further investigation to understand more the natural history of infants perinatally infected by HCV and the indication for antiviral therapies are needed.