Infection with Hepatitis C Virus among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Thailand

• Main Authors: Denise J. Jamieson (Author), Natapakwa Skunodom (Author), Thanyanan Chaowanachan (Author), Anuvat Roongpisuthipong (Author), William A. Bower (Author), Tawee Chotpitayasunondh (Author), Wendy Bhanich Supapol (Author), Wendi L. Kuhnert (Author), Wimol Siriwasin (Author), Jeffrey Wiener (Author), Sanay Chearskul (Author), Michelle S. McConnell (Author), Nathan Shaffer (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Objective. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV among a cohort of pregnant Thai women. Methods. Samples from 1771 pregnant women enrolled in three vertical transmission of HIV studies in Bangkok, Thailand, were tested for HCV. Results. Among HIV-infected pregnant women, HCV seroprevelance was 3.8% and the active HCV infection rate was 3.0%. Among HIV-uninfected pregnant women, 0.3% were HCV-infected. Intravenous drug use by the woman was the factor most strongly associated with HCV seropositivity. Among 48 infants tested for HCV who were born to HIV/HCV coinfected women, two infants were HCV infected for an HCV transmission rate of 4.2% (95% 0.51-14.25%). Conclusions. HCV seroprevalence and perinatal transmission rates were low among this Thai cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women.

Item Description

1064-7449
1098-0997
10.1155/2008/840948