Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus infection [Hepatit C virusu enfeksiyonunun aile ici gecisi]

In this study, the intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was investigated. For this aim, the serum samples from 496 family members consisting of 106 spouses, 246 children, 43 sublings and 102 other relatives and 140 index patients with chronic liver disease caused by HCV were screened for anti HCV antibodies by second generation ELISA test. The serum samples were also analyzed for HCV RNA by PCR method. Control group comprised 324 healthy pregnant women. Anti HCV seroprevalence was found to be 4.2% in the family members of index patients, whereas, 0.3% in control group (p