Title
The management of HCV-infected pregnant women
Date Issued
01 January 2010
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Valladares G.
Sjogren M.H.
Clínica Centenario Peruano Japonesa
Publisher(s)
Fundacion Clinica Medica Sur
Abstract
Hepatitis C is, at present, a worldwide health problem and is the most common cause of liver transplantation. Its prevalence in pregnant women is similar to that of the general population. In the absence of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, most HCV-infected pregnant women do not have obstetric complications. Screening of pregnant women that are asymptomatic and do not have risk factors is not cost effective. A high hepatitis C viral load reportedly increases vertical transmission and is higher in women who are coinfected with HIV or who are intravenous drug users. Prolonged rupture of the membrane for more than 6 h, amniocentesis, and perineal lacerations increase the potential risk of perinatal transmission. Although the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted intrapartum, prevention by caesarean delivery is not generally indicated. The HCV virus can be found in maternal milk; however, breast feeding is not contraindicated. In conclusion, there are no antiviral treatment recommendations for HCV-infected women during pregnancy, or guidelines for the prevention of vertical transmission.
Start page
92
End page
97
Volume
9
Issue
SUPPL. 1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas Obstetricia, Ginecología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-79952109601
PubMed ID
Source
Annals of Hepatology
ISSN of the container
16652681
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus