ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The major transmission route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transfusion of blood or blood products. But transfusion history is found only in half of HCV infected patients. In half of the patients the transmission routes of HCV were not determined. We estimate the prevalence of anti HCV in family members of the patients with HCV. METHODS: We tested anti-HCV by using the second generation enzyme immunoassay and measured HCV-RNA by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Serum samples from 135 adults who are family members of patients with anti-HCV positive liver disease were tested for serum aminotrasferase activities, hepatitis B viral markers by radioimmunoassay, and anti-HCV by EIA. RESULTS: anti-HCV positive rate in family members of the patients with HCV was 1.48% (2/135). This positive rate was not different from the studies of anti-HCV in general population in Korea (1.44%). CONCLUSION: Interfamilial transmission of HCV may probably occur, but it is uncommon being compare with other diseases such as HBV or HIV.