Cesarean Section Seems Capable of Preventing Vertical Transmission of HCV

[Guest guest]

Cesarean Section Seems Capable of Preventing Vertical Transmission of HCV

WESTPORT, Sep 11 (Reuters Health) - Vertical transmission of hepatitis C

virus (HCV) appears to occur primarily around the time of delivery, and it

might be preventable by performing cesarean section before rupture of

membranes, according to the results of a study conducted in the UK.

Dr. D. M. Gibb, of the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit in

London, and colleagues evaluated data on 441 HCV-infected mothers and their

infants. Thirty-one births were by elective cesarean section, 54 were by

emergency cesarean section, and 339 were vaginal. Fifty-nine women breastfed

their infants for a median of 6 weeks.

According to the results of polymerase chain reaction testing for HCV RNA,

7.7% of babies delivered vaginally were infected, compared with 5.9% of

those delivered by emergency cesarean section. None of the infants delivered

by cesarean section before membrane rupture became infected, the research

team reports in the September 9th issue of The Lancet. Breastfeeding

appeared to have no effect on transmission.

Dr. Gibb's team found that PCR sensitivity was age dependent, being 22%

before 1 month of age and 97% afterward. Along with the lack of transmission

in infants delivered by elective cesarean section, the investigators say,

this finding points to a " substantial intrapartum transmission of HCV. "

" Our data are preliminary, " Dr. Gibb told Reuters Health, " but we are

suggesting that if the benefit of elective cesarean section delivery is

confirmed, then the question of how and to whom to offer antenatal testing

[for HCV] should be revisited. "

The Lancet 2000;356:904-907.

[Guest guest]

Cesarean Section Seems Capable of Preventing Vertical Transmission of HCV

WESTPORT, Sep 11 (Reuters Health) - Vertical transmission of hepatitis C

virus (HCV) appears to occur primarily around the time of delivery, and it

might be preventable by performing cesarean section before rupture of

membranes, according to the results of a study conducted in the UK.

Dr. D. M. Gibb, of the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit in

London, and colleagues evaluated data on 441 HCV-infected mothers and their

infants. Thirty-one births were by elective cesarean section, 54 were by

emergency cesarean section, and 339 were vaginal. Fifty-nine women breastfed

their infants for a median of 6 weeks.

According to the results of polymerase chain reaction testing for HCV RNA,

7.7% of babies delivered vaginally were infected, compared with 5.9% of

those delivered by emergency cesarean section. None of the infants delivered

by cesarean section before membrane rupture became infected, the research

team reports in the September 9th issue of The Lancet. Breastfeeding

appeared to have no effect on transmission.

Dr. Gibb's team found that PCR sensitivity was age dependent, being 22%

before 1 month of age and 97% afterward. Along with the lack of transmission

in infants delivered by elective cesarean section, the investigators say,

this finding points to a " substantial intrapartum transmission of HCV. "

" Our data are preliminary, " Dr. Gibb told Reuters Health, " but we are

suggesting that if the benefit of elective cesarean section delivery is

confirmed, then the question of how and to whom to offer antenatal testing

[for HCV] should be revisited. "

The Lancet 2000;356:904-907.