Multicenter study of intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus infection

OBJECTIVE: Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infections is not well documented. This cross-sectional study evaluated the transmission of hepatitis C virus in the sexual partners of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients. METHODS: Hemophiliacs and transfused hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients who were being seen in three French university hospitals, and their sexual partners were studied by a face-to-face interview using an epidemiological questionnaire and by biological tests: antibodies against hepatitis C virus, hepatitis C virus RNA, and ALT activity. RESULT: Fifty-two subjects were included: 26 cases and their 26 sexual partners. Three sexual partners (11.5 %) had anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies, two of whom had an undetermined RIBA test. All three had a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection (transfusion, intra-muscular injections with re-usable needles). Two of these three partners were also human immunodeficiency virus antibody positive. Hepatitis C virus RNA was negative in all sexual partners. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of a low prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in sexual partners of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients. It does not support intra-familial transmission of hepatitis C virus.