Pregnancy after safe IVF with hepatitis C virus RNA-positive sperm.

TitlePregnancy after safe IVF with hepatitis C virus RNA-positive sperm.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsLevy R, Bourlet T, Maertens A, Salle B, Lornage J, Laurent JL, Pozzetto B, Guerin JF
JournalHum Reprod
Volume17
Issue10
Pagination2650 - 3
Date PublishedOct
ISSN0268-1161
Accession Number12351543
KeywordsAdult, Antiviral Agents, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Humans, Infertility, Female, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, RNA, Viral, Semen, Spermatozoa, Viral Load
Abstract

In France, assisted reproductive technology (ART) for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients is now subject to strict control after the publication of recent guidelines. Infertile serodiscordant couples (HCV-viraemic men and their seronegative female partners) require special care to carried out in designated 'viral risk' laboratories. Twelve sequential semen samples taken from an HCV chronically infected patient were analysed within 22 months. HCV RNA was detected in all the seminal plasma sampled before antiviral treatment with relatively high viral loads, and in two of the corresponding fractions of motile sperm obtained after a gradient selection, suggesting that a contamination risk by HCV through ART cannot be excluded. When the selection of sperm on a discontinuous gradient was followed by an additional swim-up step, HCV RNA was never detected in the motile sperm suspension that was frozen in highly secure straws. IVF was performed using cryopreserved sperm that tested negative for HCV RNA, resulting in a pregnancy. One month after embryo transfer, testing for HCV RNA and antibodies in the woman gave negative results.

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