Perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus in northern India.

Data on transmission of HCV infection from mother to infant in India are limited. Between July 2006 to June 2007, women attending our hospital in the third trimester of pregnancy were screened for anti-HCV. Those testing positive for anti-HCV were tested for HCV RNA. Infants of mothers with HCV infection were followed for up to 24 months. Eight of 488 pregnant women (1.6%) tested positive for anti-HCV; of these, seven had detectable HCV RNA. Two of 7 (29%) children born to HCV-infected mothers had persistently positive HCV RNA, indicating perinatal transmission; one additional child had transient HCV positivity. Passive transfer of HCV antibodies was observed in five babies. HCV infection was detected in 1.4% of pregnant women, and perinatal transmission of HCV to newborns was detected in 29% of such cases.