Hepatitis C virus infection and assisted reproduction.

TitleHepatitis C virus infection and assisted reproduction.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsPassos EP, Silveira TR, Salazar CC, Facin AC, Souza CA, Guerin YL, Gratão AA, Cunha-Filho JS
JournalHum Reprod
Volume17
Issue8
Pagination2085 - 8
Date PublishedAug
ISSN0268-1161
Accession Number12151441
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, DNA, Viral, Female, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C Antibodies, Humans, Infertility, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Reproductive Techniques, Risk Factors, Viremia
Abstract

In assisted reproduction, hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission may pose a risk for the baby, technicians, and gametes or embryos from non-contaminated parents. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in a group of infertile couples.|HCV infection was investigated in 409 patients attending the infertility clinic at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, between 1997 and 1998. Serum was screened for anti-HCV using ELISA and for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). HCV infection and semen viraemia was also investigated using HCV RNA detection.|The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.2% (8/248) among women and 3.7% (6/161) among men. All subjects were negative for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). From the 14 HCV-positive patients, two were lost, and serum was collected from the remaining 12 patients for assessment of HCV RNA, resulting in five HCV-positive cases (one woman and four men). Only one of the HCV-positive men had viraemia levels >500 000 RNA copies/ml. There was a significant risk associated with being HCV-positive in women with HCV-positive male partners (P

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