HCV viremia and HIV coinfection Increase Maternal transmission of HCV, Study finds

New research revealed that pregnant women with detectable Hepatitis C viremia have an increased incidence of maternal-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the virus. The risk is further elevated if the carrying mother has a viral load ≥6 log10 copies/ml or HIV coinfection. The study was published in the 'Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.'  

Mother-to-Child transmission of Hepatitis C virus infection is less common. But it can increase in case of increased viral load. To find the factors increasing the mother-to-child transmission of HCV, researchers conducted a study to assess the association between maternal hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and the risk for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) among pregnant women infected with HCV. 

Using keywords, a literature search was done in various databases like Medline, Embase, Central, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science (CPCIS), Scopus, Literature Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), and WHO Global Index Medicus databases, from inception to June 21, 2022. All the studies that reported the incidence of HCV-MTCT were included. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using the random-effects model and Holm-Bonferroni correction was performed for multiple pooled associations. 

Results

• 26 studies involving 4934 newborns with maternal HCV infection were included.
• Pregnant women with HCV viremia exhibited an increased risk for MTCT compared with those negative for HCV-RNA.
• Multiple subgroup analyses revealed that the HCV viremia/HIV-positive group demonstrated the highest risk for HCV MTCT, followed by the HCV viremia mono-infected group, while HCV-RNA-negative women demonstrated the lowest risk for HCV MTCT.
• Among females with HCV viremia, elevated risk for MTCT was found among subjects with a viral load ≥6 log10 copies/ml compared to those with a viral load < 6 log10 copies/ml. 

Thus, the researchers concluded from the meta-analysis that MTCT of HCV was increased among pregnant women with detectable HCV viremia. It was much high in those with a viral load ≥6 log10 copies/ml and with HIV coinfection.  

To read the full article, click here:  https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15998 

Deng S, Zhong W, Chen W, Zilian Wang MD. Hepatitis C viral load and mother-to-child transmission: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published online ahead of print, 2022 Sep 6]. J Gastroenterol Hepatol.