Impact of maternal HIV coinfection on the vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Observational studies suggest that maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with increased odds of vertical HCV transmission. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize current evidence.

METHODS

We systematically searched for relevant articles published during the period from January 1992 through July 2006 and independently abstracted articles that met our inclusion criteria. Under a random effects model, we calculated the pooled odds ratio for vertical HCV transmission according to maternal HIV-HCV coinfection status and performed sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Ten articles met our inclusion criteria. Study quality varied widely, and study estimates displayed high statistical heterogeneity. Restriction of the analysis to studies that included >50 HIV-HCV-coinfected women provided our most reliable estimate: maternal HIV-HCV coinfection increases the odds of vertical HCV transmission by approximately 90% (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-2.67), compared with maternal HCV infection alone. When we restricted analyses to HIV-infected mothers with HCV viremia, the odds of vertical HCV transmission were 2.82-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.17-fold to 6.81-fold) greater than the odds for HIV-infected mothers without HCV viremia.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-HCV-coinfected women have significantly higher odds of transmitting HCV to their infants than do women who are infected with HCV alone.