Summary
The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and the risk factors for HCV infection were assessed in 5,672 pregnant women living in North Italy. All reactive sera were confirmed by RIBA-2 test. Anti-HCV positive pregnant women together with an anti-HCV negative control group, were interviewed by standardised questionnaire to identify “known” or “potential” risk factors for HCV infection. The anti-HCV prevalence was 0.7% (40/5,672), higher than that observed among blood donors in the same geographical area (0.2%). The RIBA-2 assay was positive in 60% (24/40) of cases, indeterminate in 10% (4/40) and negative in 30% (12/40). As for “known” risk factors, considering RIBA-2 positivity, intravenous drug use was by far the main risk factor for HCV infection, resulting in a significantly higher risk than in the control group (50% versus 5.9% [O. R. 15.8, CI 5.4–45.5]). The ten RIBA-2 positive women without histories of transfusion or IV drug use had a significantly higher frequency of “sexual contacts with IV drug users” compared to controls (50% vs 4.9% [O. R. 19.0, CI 3.6–94.0]). In conclusion, our study provides evidence that in our geographical area the anti-HCV antibody prevalence is higher in pregnant women than in blood donors and that IV drug use and sexual contacts with IV drug users represent the most important risk factors for HCV infection among young women in North Italy.
Zusammenfassung
Bei 5672 Schwangeren, die in Norditalien leben, wurden anti-HCV Prävalenz und Risikofaktoren für eine HCV-Infektion bestimmt. Alle reaktiven Seren wurden mit dem RIBA-2-Test nachgetestet. Anti-HCV positive Frauen und eine anti-HCV-negative Kontrollgruppe wurden mit einem Standardfragebogen interviewt, um „bekannte“ oder „mögliche“ Risikofaktoren für eine HCV-Infektion zu identifizieren. Die Prävalenz von anti-HCV-Antikörpern lag bei 0,7% (40/5672) und war höher als bei Blutspendern aus derselben Gegend (0,2%). Bei 60% (24/40) war der RIBA-2-Test positiv, bei 10% (4/40) unbestimmt und bei 30% (12/40) negativ. Bezogen auf RIBA-2 positive Fälle fand sich unter den „bekannten“ Riskofaktoren intravenöser Drogengebrauch als Hauptrisikofaktor, wobei das Risiko signifikant höher war als in der Kontrollgruppe (50% versus 5,9%; OR 15,8; CI 5,4–45,4). Die zehn RIBA-2 positiven Frauen ohne Vorgeschichte einer Transfusion oder i.v. Drogenmißbrauchs hatten signifikant häufiger sexuelle „Kontakte mit i.v. Drogenabhängigen“ als Kontrollen (50% gegenüber 4,9%; OR 19,0, CI 3,6–94,0). Aus den Daten ist zu schließen, daß die Prävalenz von anti-HCV-Antikörpern bei schwangeren Frauen höher ist als bei Blutspendern und daß intravenöser Drogengebrauch und sexuelle Kontakte mit intravenös Drogenabhängigen die wichtigsten Risikofaktoren für eine HCV-Infektion bei jungen Frauen in Norditalien sind.
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Marranconi, F., Fabris, P., Stecca, C. et al. Prevalence of anti-HCV and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in healthy pregnant women. Infection 22, 333–337 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01715541
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01715541