ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine the prevalence, risk factors of HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women, rate of vertical transmission to newborns and to assess the preventive role of HBIG and HBV vaccine on the carrier state of newborns
Methods: Five hundred pregnant women were screened for HCV and HBV seromarkers by ELISA, positive cases were confirmed by PCR and evaluated for liver enzymes and INF-gamma. Newborns of HBV positive mothers received HBV vaccine and immunoglobulins and followed up to assess the vertical transmission and carrier rates
Results: Out of the five hundred pregnant women, 7.0% were HCV positive, 4.0% were HBV positive and 1.0% was both HCV and HBV positive. The vertical transmission rate to the newborns was 2.9% for HCV, 30.0% for HBV and 20.0% for combined HBV and HCV infection. The carrier rate of HCV and HBV positive newborns at the end of eight months was10.8% and 8% respectively
Conclusions: HBV and HCV are highly prevalent among pregnant women in Upper Egypt. The rate of vertical transmission was also high. HBV vaccine and immunoglobulin resulted in satisfactory reduction [92%] in the carrier state of HBV infection among the newborns