Hepatitis C virus antibodies, viral RNA and genotypes in sera from patients on maintenance haemodialysis

SUMMARY. Patients on maintenance haemodialysis in four dialysis centres were tested for markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was detected by the second-generation enzyme immunoassay in 142 (26%) of the 543 patients and HCV RNA in 117 (22%) of whom four were without detectable anti-HCV in serum. Seventy-seven (66%) were infected with HCV of genotype II/1b, 31 (27%) with genotype III/2a and eight (7%) with genotype IV/2b. in a distribution similar to that in blood donors who carried HCV asymptomatically. Haemodialysis patients had high HCV RNA titres comparable to those of patients with chronic hepatitis C. HCV RNA was detected in 96 (26%) of the 365 patients with a history of transfusion more frequently than in 21 (12%) of the 178 without previous transfusion ( P <0.001). In transfused patients, frequencies of anti-HCV and HCV RNA increased in parallel with the duration of haemodialysis. The frequency of anti-HCV in non-transfused patients, however, did not change appreciably with the duration of haemodialysis up to 22 years. The patients with anti-HCV had a higher frequency of HCV RNA in serum than symptom-free blood donors with anti-HCV (113/142 or 80% vs 109/166 or 66% P <0.01) and the patients with HCV RNA had a lower frequency of elevated aminotransferase levels than blood donors with HCV RNA (5/113 or 4% vs 27/109 or 25%, P <0.00l). These results indicate that transfusion is a significant cause of HCV infection in patients on maintenance haemodialysis, and that these patients are prone to establish the HCV carrier state after infection.     

HCV HBV感染与肝细胞性肝癌

调查了肝癌高发地区不同肝病患者中丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染率。慢性肝病患者绝大多数已被乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染。HCV第二代抗体阳性率,肝癌7.3％,肝硬化6.6％,慢性肝炎6.6％和急性肝炎3.4％。两种病毒的复合感染率,肝癌5.1％,肝硬化1.7％,慢性肝炎3.9％和急性肝炎1.1％。在38例HCV抗体阳性的慢性肝病患者中,ALT异常84.2％,有输血史者占57.9％,HCV-RNA阳性率为71.1％。本研究的资料分析提示,在肝癌高发地区尽管HCV抗体阳性率较低,但HCV感染也是肝癌发生的重要病因之一。     

Clinical significance of hepatitis G virus infection in patients on long-term haemodialysis

Infection with the newly discovered hepatitis G virus (HGV) was analysed in 163 patients on long-term haemodialysis to clarify its prevalence and clinical significance. Hepatitis G virus RNA in serum was measured by polymerase chain reaction with primers corresponding to the putative non-structural 5’ region. Of the 163 patients, three (1.8%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, 40 (24.5%) were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA and 16 (9.8%) were positive for HGV-RNA. Five of the 16 patients with HGV-RNA were also positive for HCV-RNA. Patients with HCV and HGV coinfection had undergone a longer duration of haemodialysis (P=0.001) and had higher units of transfusion (P=0.031) compared with those without hepatitis virus infection. Transfusion history was significantly higher (P=0.039) in patients with only HGV infection than in those without hepatitis virus infection. Hepatitis C virus RNA concentration was higher (P=0.032) in patients with HCV and HGV coinfection than in those with HCV infection only, but alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were similar between these two groups. In conclusion, about 10% of patients on haemodialysis were infected with HGV and the infection was closely associated with transfusion history.     

Lower Hepatitis G Virus Infection Prevalence Compared to Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection Prevalences

To more accurately determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection, we surveyed antibody to HGV (anti-E2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HGV RNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 298 residents of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic area of Japan and in 225 hemodialysis patients. We then compared these findings with known HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalences. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA prevalences were 32 (10.7%) and 5 (1.7%) in the residents and 24 (10.7%) and 10 (4.4%) in the hemodialysis patients, respectively. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA concurrence was found in two of the hemodialysis patients. Total HGV marker (anti-E2 and/or HGV RNA) prevalences [37 (12.4%) in residents and 32 (14.2%) in hemodialysis patients], were significantly lower than the prevalences of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA [59 (19.8%) and 96 (42.7%)], and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) [87 (29.2%) and 101 (44.9%)] (P < 0.05). The anti-HCV prevalence in subjects with total HGV marker was significantly higher than in those without total HGV marker. There was no significant difference in anti-HBc prevalence between those with and without total HGV marker. The viremic rate was highest in HCV infection (HCV RNA by PCR/anti-HCV) (83.2%), with HGV infection (HGV RNA/total HGV marker) (21.7%) intermediate, and HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen by RIA/anti-HBc) (5.3%) lowest (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that HGV infection was less endemic than HCV and HBV. HGV was eliminated naturally more frequently than HCV infection and less frequently than HBV infection.     

Occult hepatitis C virus infection among haemodialysis patients

Background and study aims

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a severe problem among patients on maintenance haemodialysis who are at particular risk for blood-borne infections because of prolonged vascular access and potential for exposure to contaminated equipment. Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) is defined as the presence of HCV RNA in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence of detectable HCV antibody or HCV RNA in the serum. In this study, we aimed to investigate the existence of occult hepatitis C virus infection in PBMCs of haemodialysis (HD) patients in one center. Moreover, we tried to link the condition to risk factors associated with HCV infection in those patients.

Evaluation of quantitative assay for antibody to hepatitis C virus core in patients treated with interferon

We titrated antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) core of serum samples from 57 patients with chronic HCV infection, in an attempt to clarify the relationship between the level of HCV RNA and the outcome of interferon treatment. The patients studied were positive for both anti-HCV, by second-generation assay, and HCV RNA, by polymerase chain reaction, and had been treated with interferon for six months. Of the 57 patients, HCV RNA was eliminated in 16 by the time of discontinuation of interferon treatment (CR); in 19 this elimination was transient (PR) and for 22 elimination was nil (NR). The low HCV RNA level was accompanied by high titers of anti-HCV core while high HCV RNA levels were accompanied by low titers of anti-HCV core, with an inverse correlation (r=?0.322,P<0.05). The mean titer of anti-HCV core before interferon treatment was 324 units in CR, 205 in PR, and 168 in NR, with a correlation ratio of 0.382 (P<0.05). A decreased titer (more than 50%) was found in 68% of the CR. At the time of six-month follow-up, the anti-HCV core titers of CR had decreased by more than 50%, compared to pretreatment titers, while in PR and NR, there was an increase to above the pretreatment titers, without increases in HCV RNA levels or worsening of the hepatitis. In conclusion, quantitative assay for anti-HCV core is useful to assess the status of HCV replication.     

High frequency of antibodies to Hantaan virus and hepatitis C virus in chronic haemodialysis patients Coincidence or cross-reaction?

Abstract. Objectives. To address the question of whether there is any coincidence or cross-reaction between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hantaan virus (both RNA arboviruses), as well as to assess the frequency of antibodies to the above viruses amongst chronic haemodialysis patients in our region. Design. Collection of serum samples from consecutive unselected chronic haemodialysis patients. Setting. A tertiary referral center (University Hospital). Subjects. One hundred and fourteen chronic haemodialysis patients were investigated for the presence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and Hantaan virus disease (anti-HVD). Eleven unselected non-haemodialysis patients with well-defined haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were also investigated for the anti-HCV antibodies comprising the disease control group. Interventions. None. Main outcome measures. The utility of an anti-HVD positive test in chronic haemodialysis patients. Results. Seventeen patients (14.9% 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4–21.4%) were anti-HCV positive, whereas 15 (13.2%, 95% CI 6.9–19.3%) were anti-HVD positive. An anti-HCV positive test was confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA II) in 88.2%. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies was not associated with transfusions but with the longer duration of haemodialysis (62.8 ± 29.8 vs. 31.2 ± 29.3 months, P < 0.001). Anti-HVD antibodies were not associated with transfusions or with the duration of haemodialysis. Three patients were positive for both anti-HCV and anti-HVD antibodies. None of the 11 patients with well-defined HFRS had anti-HCV antibodies. Conclusions. Chronic haemodialysis patients are a high risk group for HCV infection in association with the duration of haemodialysis and, at least for our geographical area, these patients have to be examined for anti-HVD antibodies especially when a definite causative agent for chronic renal failure is not found. The HVD and HCV infection are not exceptional amongst haemodialysis patients in our region, whereas the possibility of a cross-reaction between these two RNA arboviruses is rather excluded as there was no evidence of HCV infection amongst the patients with well-defined HFRS.     

Humoral immune response in Japanese acute hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

The humoral immune response to acute infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not yet perfectly clear in terms of immunoglobulin (Ig) response, diversity of HCV antigen, and the relation with hepatitis severity and antibody response. Serum IgM and IgG anti-HCV levels in patients with HCV and either acute hepatitis (AH) or fulminant hepatitis (FH) were investigated; the diversity of HCV antigen was investigated by RIBA test III. Of 22 AH patients, 12 (54.5%) were positive for IgM anti-HCV, mainly reacting to HCV core protein. The mean interval until the appearance of IgM anti-HCV after onset was 24.1+/-26.2 days. IgG anti-HCV mainly reacted to both core and NS-3 antigen, appearing 42.6+/-42.1 days after onset. From a serial study of 15 AH patients, it was considered that in seven AH patients (46. 7%), the IgM response would precede the IgG response. In another two AH patients, IgM anti-HCV was not detected during the acute disease phase. Of 48 chronic hepatitis patients with HCV-RNA, 40 patients were positive for IgM anti-HCV. Therefore, IgM anti-HCV was useful for diagnosis in some of the AH patients, but it was difficult to use for distinguishing between acute and chronic infection. All four FH patients with HCV-RNA were positive for both IgM and IgG antibody to HCV at onset. Their antibody titres were higher than those of AH patients. These results suggested that, as in FH due to HBV, FH due to HCV could induce strong and rapid humoral immunity.     

Prospective virological follow-up of hepatitis C infection in a haemodialysis unit

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is of major concern in the management of patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Many studies have reported a high prevalence of HCV infection in dialysis centres. The objective of our study was first, to perform a prospective follow-up of the evolution of HCV infection in a haemodialysis centre, and second, to assess the rate of viral clearance in patients on dialysis. For this, genotypes, HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) and HCV RNA were evaluated initially and 9months later. HCV RNA quantification was also performed. Of 136 patients, 62 (45.6%) were anti-HCV positive by third-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA3) in the first survey and 64 of 136 (47.1%) were anti-HCV positive by EIA3 in the second survey. The rate of new HCV infection, estimated from the two seroconversions between the surveys, was 1.9% per year. One of the two patients was initially HCV RNA positive, with a titre of 0.6×10⁶eqml^–1. The viral load measured in the dialysis patients was low and does not seem to be influenced by dialysis. No significant difference was observed in viral load between the two periods nor were there any gender-related differences in viral load. In conclusion, detection of antibodies to HCV, together with HCV RNA, seems to be relevant in haemodialysis patients, but this strategy is not suitable for use in all haemodialysis centres because of its high cost.     

Detection and prevention of hepatitis C in dialysis patients and renal transplant recipients. A long-term follow up (1989-January 1997)

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C is frequent problem in dialysis wards. DESIGN: A long time (1989-97) follow up of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a Swedish nephrology unit was performed with anti-HCV screening, confirmatory antibody tests, viral RNA detection and molecular characterization. Case histories were reviewed with focus, onset of infection, liver morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: In October 1991, 10% (19 of 184) of the patients in the unit (haemodialysis-, peritoneal dialysis and transplanted patients) were verified or suspected HCV carriers, whilst the number at the end of 1996 was 8%, (13 of 157). Most patients were infected before 1991 but only in one case from a known HCV-infected blood donor. No new HCV infections associated with haemodialysis occurred during the study period. A total of 13 of 24 viremic patients had HCV genotype 2b, a pattern suggesting nosocomial transmission. This was further supported by phylogenetic analysis of HCV viral isolates in seven. HCV viremia was also common in patients with an incomplete anti-HCV antibody pattern as 8 of the 12 indeterminant sera were HCV-RNA positive. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness, prevention, identification of infected patients and donor testing limited transmission. Indeterminant recombinant immunoblot assays (RIBA)-results should be regarded with caution as a result of the relative immunodeficiency in uremic patients. Our data indicate nosocomial transmission in several patients.     

Studies on hepatitis C virus infection in haemodialysis patients]

To examine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in haemodialysis patients without blood transfusion in Hiroshima Prefecture, antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was studied by the Ortho ELISA Kit in sera from 393 consecutive haemodialysis patients and in sera from 510 age and sex matched healthy members of the general population (control). An additional confirmatory test was done by a recombinant immunoblot assay. 1) Anti-HCV was detected in 70 of the 393 dialysis patients and 3 of the 510 healthy controls (17.8% vs 0.6%, p less than 0.01). Prevalence of anti-HCV in haemodialysis patients sera was increased by the volume of blood transfusion, and even in dialysis patients who had no blood transfusion, the frequency of anti-HCV positivity (9.2%) was greater than the healthy controls (p less than 0.01). Thus, the major route of HCV transmission in haemodialysis patients without blood transfusion may be via the haemodialysis treatment. 2) The prevalence of anti-HCV increased significantly with the ALT level and abnormal ALT activity of the anti-HCV positive group were significantly greater than that of the negative group. Thus, it is suggested that HCV infection may be an etiologic factor of liver dysfunction in haemodialysis patients.     

Coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in HIV-infected patients in south India

AIM To screen for the co-infection of hepatitis B (HBV)and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients insouthern India.METHODS Five hundred consecutive HIV infected patients were screened for Hepatitis B Virus (HBsAg and HBV-DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA)using commercially available ELISA kits; HBsAg, HBeAg/anti-HBe (Biorad laboratories, USA) and anti-HCV (Murex Diagnostics, UK). The HBV-DNA PCR was performed to detect the surface antigen region (pre S-S). HCV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR for the detection of the constant 5' putative non-coding region of HCV.RESULTS HBV co-infection was detected in 45/500 (9%)patients and HCV co-infection in 11/500 (2.2%) subjects.Among the 45 co-infected patients only 40 patients could be studied, where the detection rates of HBe was 55%(22/40), antiHBe was 45% (18/40) and HBV-DNA was 56% (23/40). Among 11 HCV co-infected subjects, 6(54.5%) were anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive, while 3(27.2%) were positive for anti-HCV alone and 2 (18%)were positive for HCV RNA alone.CONCLUSION Since the principal routes for HIV transmission are similar to that followed by the hepatotropic viruses, as a consequence, infections with HBV and HCV are expected in HIV infected patients.Therefore, it would be advisable to screen for these viruses in all the HIV infected individuals and their sexual partners at the earliest.     

Hemodialysis access surgery--is there an increased risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus compared to other elective vascular interventions?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether dedicated access surgeons might have a significantly higher risk of acquiring hepatitis C infection compared to other vascular surgeons by assessing the prevalence of hepatitis C patients who are on chronic hemodialysis and to compare the frequency to patients undergoing elective vascular interventions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart and data analysis of all patients on chronic hemodialysis was conducted. As a comparative group, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and positive HCV RNA PCR among patients admitted for elective vascular surgery was assessed. RESULTS: Of 285 patients on chronic hemodialysis, 202 (71%) were had both tests (antibody test for HCV and specific HCV RNA PCR testing). 5% (n = 11; CI 95 = 3-10%) were antibody positive, and 4% (n = 8; CI 95 = 2-8%) were also PCR positive and therefore infectious. One patient was acutely infected. Of 4963 vascular surgical patients, 1141 (23%) had an anti-HCV antibody ELISA test and specific HCV RNA PCR testing. 0.4% (n = 4; CI 95 = 0.1-1%) were antibody positive and 0.2% (n = 2; CI 95 = 0.03-0.7%) were also PCR positive and hence infectious. No acutely infected patient was detected in this population. The chance of operating on a HCV positive and infectious patient among hemodialysis patients was almost 27 times higher than among elective vascular surgical patients (P < 0.0001; OR = 26.56; CI 95 = 5.42-253.40). CONCLUSIONS: Dedicated hemodialysis access surgeons have a higher risk to acquire hepatitis C infection compared to vascular surgeons performing all other elective vascular surgical interventions. To identify early infected surgeons operating on high risk HCV patient collectives and to start rapid treatment, PCR testing at regular intervals would be advisable.     

Serologic versus molecular testing for screening for hepatitis C virus infection in patients with hematologic malignancies

Testing for antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) is a low-cost diagnostic method worldwide; however, an optimal screening test for HCV in patients with cancer has not been established. We sought to identify an appropriate screening test for HCV infection in patients with hematologic malignancies and/or hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT). Patients in our center were simultaneously screened using serological (anti-HCV) and molecular (HCV RNA) assays (February 2019–November 2019).In total, 214 patients were enrolled in this study. Three patients (1.4%) were positive for anti-HCV, and 2 (0.9%) were positive for HCV RNA. The overall percentage agreement was 99.5% (95% CI: 97.4–99.9). There were no cases of seronegative HCV virus infection. The positive percentage agreement was 66.7% (95% CI: 20.8–93.9), and the negative percentage agreement was 100.0% (95% CI: 98.2–100.0). Cohen kappa coefficient was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.41–1.00, P < .0001).The diagnostic yield of screening for chronic HCV infection in patients with cancer is similar for serologic and molecular testing.     

Detection of hepatitis C virus antibody in the absence of viral RNA in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether laboratory findings showing antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with autoimmune hepatitis represent false-positive results and to identify possible explanations for true-positive results in these patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: University-based hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-two patients with non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis as a control group and 26 patients with classic chronic active autoimmune hepatitis. MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of the results of five kinds of assays of HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. MAIN RESULTS: Of 52 patients with non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis, HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were detected in 42 patients (81%; 95% CI, 67% to 90%) by a first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-I), in 39 patients (75%) by Sp42 ELISA, in 37 patients (71%) by RIA-I, in 49 patients (94%) by ELISA-II, and in 48 patients (92%) by RIBA-II. We found HCV RNA in 47 patients (90%; CI, 79% to 97%). Of the 26 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, anti-HCV were detected in 23 patients (88%; CI, 70% to 98%) by ELISA-I, in 12 (46%) by both RIA-I and Sp42 ELISA, in 20 (77%) by ELISA-II, and in 9 (35%) by RIBA-II. However, HCV RNA was found in only five of these patients (19%; CI, 7% to 39%). None of our patients, including controls, had antibodies to superoxide dismutase. Of the 21 patients who had autoimmune hepatitis that was completely responsive to steroid therapy, 18 had anti-HCV by ELISA-I, but 13 of these patients had negative results by RIBA-II, and only two patients had HCV RNA. Of the five patients who did not respond to steroid treatment, all had anti-HCV by ELISA-I, four had negative results by RIBA-II, and three had HCV RNA. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for HCV antibodies in patients with autoimmune hepatitis frequently elicits positive results when the ELISA-I or ELISA-II tests are used. Most of these appear to represent false-positive results because HCV RNA is usually absent from the serum. Such false positivity may result from previous infection with HCV or from cross-reaction of an epitope of HCV. Other patients with apparent autoimmune hepatitis who fail to respond to corticosteroid therapy may actually have chronic hepatitis C (or other non-A, non-B hepatitis) infection.     

Superinfection of TT virus and hepatitis C virus among chronic haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: The TT virus (TTV), a new DNA virus found in Japan from a patient with post-transfusion hepatitis non-A-non-G, is frequently positive in the sera of patients with liver disease. It is not established whether this virus causes liver damage. We studied the frequency of superinfection of this virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) known to be endemic among haemodialysis patients, and the possible deleterious effect of TTV on HCV-induced chronic liver disease. METHODS: We used primers from a conservative region in the TTV genome (Okamoto, 1998) to detect TTV. Sera from 163 dialysis patients positive for anti-HCV and 77 dialysis patients negative for anti-HCV (control) were tested. RESULTS: TT Virus positivity was 35% among HCV antibody (anti-HCV)-positive patients and 45.4% among anti-HCV-negative patients. TT Virus positivity was unrelated to the length of haemodialysis or amounts of blood the patients had received in the past. More anti-HCV-positive patients had a history of transfusion, but TTV positivity was not as closely associated with transfusion as anti-HCV positivity. The severity of chronic liver disease was estimated from peak serum alanine aminotransferase levels in the preceding 6 months. Among anti-HCV positives, TTV-positive patients tended to have less active disease; at least there was no indication that TTV superinfection aggravated chronic hepatitic C in long-term dialysis patients. Four of 35 anti-HCV-negative, TTV-positive patients had chronic active liver disease, while none of the anti-HCV-negative and TTV-negative patients did. CONCLUSIONS: TT Virus infection is prevalent among haemodialysis patients. Its transmission occurs not only by blood transfusion, but also by non-parenteral infection. Superinfection of TTV does not exert deleterious effects on the liver disease induced by HCV. However, it may cause chronic hepatitis in a limited number of patients, but remains dormant most of the time. Triple infection, HCV and TTV plus HBV or HGV (one case each), did not cause severe liver disease.     

G Virus in the General Population and in Patients on Hemodialysis

To determine the routes of transmission ofhepatitis G virus (HGV) and the relationship between HGVand hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, we tested forHGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in 494 hemodialysis patients,638 inhabitants of two HCV endemic areas, and in 400blood donors in Japan. HGV RNA was detected in 6.9% ofhemodialysis patients, in 1.4% of inhabitants, and in 0.8% of donors, and anti-HCV wasdetected in 39.3%, 12.4%, and 1.8%, respectively. Of HGVRNA-positive hemodialysis patients, and HGV RNA-positiveinhabitants, 64.7% and 11.1%, respectively, had been given blood transfusions. Theprevalences of HGV RNA and anti-HCV significantlyincreased with the duration of hemodialysis. Of all HGVRNA positives, 74.4% were coinfected with HCV andsubjects with HGV RNA alone had normal liver function.In conclusion, HGV is transmitted by blood transfusionand within the hemodialysis unit itself. HGV does notseem to injure hepatocytes.     

经母婴传播丙型肝炎病毒婴儿10年转归的研究

目的：了解丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)母婴传播的远期预后。方法：应用前瞻性研究方法，对13例母婴传播感染HCV婴儿的转归进行了10年的随访。使用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测HCVRNA，用第二代EIA试剂检测抗HCV。结果：临床型丙型肝炎1例，血清中抗-HCV和HCV RNA分别持续7年和8年；亚临床型丙型肝炎3例，2例血清中抗-HCV于l2月龄阴转，1例于24月龄阴转，2例HCV RNA于24月龄阴转，1例于60月龄阴转；隐性感染9例，血清中抗-HCV和HCV RNA均在12月龄内阴转。随访8～10年未发现抗-HCV和HCV RNA再次转阳者。结论：提示HCV母婴传播形成HCV慢性携带和丙型肝炎慢性化的机率较低，转归较好，对婴儿生长发育影响不大。