Background of study: Up to 1 May, 2001, the total number of HIV-1 infections registered in Perm region has reached 1,953. Most of them, 1,851 (95%), were injecting drug users (IDUs) co-infected with HIV-1 and HCV. 19% of them (352/1,851) were women of fertile age with risk of vertical trsansmission both HIV and HCV during pregnancy and delivery.
Objective: To evaluate risk of maternal transmission of HCV to children exposed to both HIV and HCV.
Design: Plasma samples from children born to women co-infected both HIV-1 and HCV were analysed for anti-HCV antibodies and HIV-1 and HCV RNA using ELISA and PCR. The diagnosis of the HIV infection was based on the CDC criteria. A positive result of HCV PCR was the diagnostic criteria for HCV-infected children.
Results: There were fifteen children under our observation. All their mothers were IDUs aged from 19 to 25 years old co-infected with HIV-1 and HCV. Mode of delivery was by vaginal route for all infants, none of them were breast-fed. Two (13,3%) out of 15 children were HCV-infected, but both babies were HIV-negative. In the 13 non-HCV-infected children maternal HCV-specific antibodies were detected in plasma samples up to 9 months of age. Five babies among HCV-negative were HIV-1 –infected.
Conclusion: In our experience none of children born to women co-infected with HIV-1 and HCV were dually infected. Risk of possible vertical transmission of both viruses simultaneously in such babies requires development and realizing effective prophylactic measures.
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