Transmission of GBV-C/HGV from drug-addicted mothers to their babies

doi:10.1016/S0168-8278(97)80284-X

Journal of Hepatology

Volume 27, Issue 1, July 1997, Pages 85-90

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8278(97)80284-X Get rights and content

Abstract

Background/Aims: In 1995, a new flavivirus, GBV-C/HGV was identified. Little information is available on the clinical manifestations and epidemiology of GBV-C/HGV infection. We investigated the risk of mother-to-infant transmission in a group of GBV-C/HGV RNA positive women and followed up the GBV-C/HGV infected babies.

Methods: Twenty-eight anti-HCV positive women, of whom 25 have been intravenous drug users, and their children were included in the study. RNA was extracted from serum, reverse transcribed and amplified with primers from the NS5 region of GBV-C/HGV and 5′-UTR of HCV in a nested polymerase chain reaction. Amplified DNA fragments were gel purified and sequenced; the sequences obtained were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis.

Results: Transmission of GBV-C/HGV occurred in 10 (56%) of 18 infants born to GBV-C/HGV positive mothers; all these women were drug abusers. Only one (5%) of 19 babies whose mothers were HCV RNA positive by polymerase chain reaction, was infected with HCV during the follow up. High sequence homology in the NS5 region of GBV-C/HGV isolated in 10 mother-child pairs suggested mother-infant transmission. All 10 babies remained GBV-C/HGV RNA positive during follow up (2–12 months). None of the GBV-C/HGV infected infants became icteric or demonstrated any clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease.

Conclusions: Mother-to-infant transmission of GBV-C/HGV may be high, at least in HCV-infected, drug-addicted women. In GBV-C/HGV RNA positive infants the rate of GBV-C/HGV persistent infection is high, but the infection is not accompanied by any symptoms of liver disease.

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Citation Excerpt :
In the population of analyzed pregnant women the percentage of patients positive to GBV-C RNA was comparatively high (4.1%). We have considered and compared the results of the main studies performed in different countries about the prevalence of GBV-C infection in pregnancy, as reported in Table 3 [4–11,21,22,28]. The prevalence of GBV-C infection in our group agrees with populations with similar features reported by other Authors (range 1.1–6%).
The more effective way of transmission of GB virus C (GBV-C) is parenteral, but sexual and vertical transmission seem to be the main way of spreading. We evaluated the prevalence and the effect of GBV-C infection on pregnant women, vertical transmission and viral effects on the newborn.
This study has consecutively enrolled 879 pregnant women. All patients had blood sampling to determine GBV-C RNA, serologic tests for chronic viral infections and seric tests of hepatic damage. The newborns from infected mothers had blood sampling to detect the presence of GBV-C at birth, and after 3 and 6 months. Positive babies were checked until 18 months.
36 (4.1%) women resulted GBV-C positive. Among the positive patients none presented complications during pregnancy. Neither embryonic-fetal abnormalities nor relevant differences in fetal birth weight and week of gestation at delivery were found. 20 out of 36 babies had a follow-up. At birth, 13 (65%) babies were positive. 4 out of 9 vaginal deliveries (44%) and 9 out of 11 cesarean sections (82%) resulted positive to GBV-C RNA. The risk of GBV-C vertical transmission was not significantly increased by type of delivery (p = 0.274). At 3 months, 13 babies were GBV-C positive (65%) and 7 were negative (35%). At the end of the follow-up, 9 babies were positive (45%), while 11 were negative (55%).
The percentage of patients positive to GBV-C RNA was comparatively high (4.1%). This prevalence, in a population without particular risk factors, confirms that common ways of transmission, such as the sexual and vertical ones, might have an important role in viral diffusion. Our data suggest that the infection does not influence the course of pregnancy. The rate of transmission found in our study is high. Type of delivery does not seem to be actually involved in vertical transmission and the protective role of cesarean section has not been confirmed.
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Transmission of GBV-C/HGV from drug-addicted mothers to their babies

Abstract

Lancet

Lancet

Lancet

J Pediatr

Isolation of novel virus-like sequences associated with human hepatitis

Nature Med

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Science