The low risk of hepatitis C virus transmission among sexual partners of hepatitis C-infected hemophilic males: an international, multicenter study

Blood. 1992 Jul 15;80(2):540-3.

Abstract

To study the transmission rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the female sexual partners of antibody-positive hemophilic males, 106 partners from three hemophilia centers located in Europe, America, and Australia were tested for HCV seropositivity using a first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-1) and, subsequently, a second-generation ELISA (ELISA-2) and a supplemental recombinant immunoblot assay. Additionally, the cohort was tested for the presence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 and hepatitis B virus markers. No female partner was HCV antibody-positive using the ELISA-1 test, whereas five were seropositive by the ELISA-2 test. Three of these five female partners were seropositive on the supplemental test, the remaining two having indeterminate results, for an overall prevalence of 2.7%. Thus, even with the use of sensitive testing, the prevalence of HCV infection remains low in this cohort, showing that the efficiency of heterosexual transmission of HCV is poor.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / analysis
  • HIV Seropositivity
  • Hemophilia A* / therapy*
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / analysis
  • Hepatitis C / etiology
  • Hepatitis C / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Transfusion Reaction*

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies
  • Hepatitis Antibodies