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Search for intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in hemophilia
patients
SA Brackmann, A Gerritzen, J Oldenburg, HH Brackmann and KE Schneweis
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Bonn,
Germany.
This study was performed to determine the risk of family members of
anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive hemophilia patients (index patients)
for infection with HCV compared with the risk of acquiring hepatitis B
virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis A virus
(HAV) infection. All index patients (n = 141) were found to be positive by
first and second generation anti-HCV enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). Among
their household contacts (n = 228), 224 were negative and 1 positive by
both assays. Three contacts gave positive results in first generation
anti-HCV EIA and negative results in second generation assay. This latter
result was confirmed by further tests (neutralization test, synthetic
peptides, and supplemental assay). Percent positivity for anti-HBc was
about the same in non-sexual household contacts and sexual partners (13 of
109 [12%] and 7 of 54 [13%], respectively). Percent prevalence of anti-HBc
was higher in contacts of index patients with chronic hepatitis B than in
those of index patients who had recovered from that disease (6 of 20 [30%]
and 14 of 133 [10%], respectively; P < .05). The HBV infection rate of
contacts participating in controlled self-treatment was not higher than
that of controls (3 of 57 [5%] and 10 of 98 [10%], respectively). Of 44
sexual partners, 5 (11%) were found to be positive for anti-HIV. Prevalence
of anti-HAV matched with the age-related distribution in the German
population. These findings suggest that intrafamilial transmission of HCV
to family members of hemophilia patients is uncommon. In contacts of
hemophilia patients, the risk of acquiring HBV infection seems to be as
high in household contacts as in sexual contacts. Participation in
controlled self-treatment does not appear to be an additional risk for HCV
and HBV infection. There is no doubt that sexual transmission of HCV is
less common than that of HBV and HIV.
Volume 81,
Issue 4,
pp. 1077-1082,
02/15/1993
Copyright © 1993 by The American Society of Hematology
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