Limited evidence of HCV transmission in stable heterosexual couples from Bahia, Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
;
13(4): 262-265, Aug. 2009. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-539760
ABSTRACT
HCV infected patients frequently ask their physician about the risk of transmission to their partners. Although it is easy to answer that the risk does exist, it is difficult to quantify. We studied the transmission of HCV infection in stable heterosexual couples anti-HCV positive patients in hemodialytic therapy and their partners. Thirty-four couples were tested by third generation ELISA and RIBA. Blood samples of anti-HCV positive patients were evaluated by RT-PCR and detected sequences were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Concordance of infection was observed in only one couple in which both subjects were in dialytic therapy. One other partner had two positive ELISA tests and an indeterminate RIBA, with negative RT-PCR, which may suggest a false positive or a previous resolved infection. Either sexual relations, sharing of personal items and history of parenteral exposure (hemodialysis, blood transfusion) could explain transmission in the only couple with concordant infection. We observed, in accordance with previous reports, that this risk is minimal or negligible in stable heterosexual couples.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Renal Dialysis
/
Hepatitis C
/
Spouses
/
Hepatitis C Antibodies
/
Heterosexuality
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Ministry of Health/BR
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