Hepatitis C Virus Load during Pregnancy and Puerperium

Objective: To assess whether pregnancy and delivery influence serum levelsof hepatitis C virus(HCV)in carrier mothers. Design: A prospective study. Setting: University department of obsterics and gynaecology. Participants. Participants: Ten pregnant HCV carriers(group A)and 8 nonpregnant HCV carriers(griup B). Methods: Serum samples were collected for group A at first and third trimesters, delivery,postpartum 1,3,6,9 and 12 months,and at every three months for 1 year for group B. Main outcome measures: Each serum sample was tested for serum alanine aminotransferase( ALT),anti-HCV titre and HCV-cDNA concentration by a competitive polymerase chain reaction(PCR) with a sensitivity of 250 copies/mL serum. Result: In group A,the HCV levelsremained unremarkably changed during pregnancy and delivery.HOwever,all women had decreased HCV level 1 and 3 months after delivery.Two women had undetectable serum HCV level postpartum and thereafter.Serum ALT values in 3 women were sporadically elevated,but did not correlate with decreased serum HCV levels.Anti-HCV titres remained unchanged during the study period.In two women group B,the serum HCV levels but all were above 250 copies/mL.Serum ALT values were normal and anti-HCV titres remained stationary in all 8 nonpregnant carriers. Conclusion: Serum HCV levles are decreased 1 and 3 months after delivery.This fact might suggest that puerperium is an optimal time for antiviral therapy in HCV carriers months