Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Tue, 8 Oct 1996 16:01:20 -0700 |
Content-Type: | multipart/mixed |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Here's what my previous post attachment was supposed to look like:
------------------------------
Kimberly Elms
Arizona State University
[log in to unmask]
------------------------------
MOTHER TO INFANT TRANSMISSION Mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus has been
recorded but seems to be unusual. Differences in the rate of maternal-infant transmission between
different countries remain unexplained, and the importance of this route in perpetuating the reservoir of
human infection is unknown, though it could be relevant. Maternal-infant transmission is more likely in
mothers with hepatitis C virus RNA concentrations higher than 10 to power 7 genomes per ml. Though
patients should be informed of the fairly low risk of transmission, it should be explained to those wanting
children that perinatal transmission cannot categorically be excluded. The risk may be determined by the
level of viraemia, but other factors could be involved. Couples can make an informed decision in the light
of the available data and subsequent litigation therefore avoided. Though hepatitis C virus RNA has been
found in breast milk, infection of infants by breast feeding has not been reported. Persistent hepatitis C
virus RNA has been found in the absence of hepatitis C antibody in newborn babies of antibody positive
women, suggesting the possibility of seronegative hepatitis C virus infection.[x-xii] This observation
requires careful validation.
|
|
|