GB virus C infection in pregnancy: Maternal and perinatal importance of the infection

Paternoster, Delia; Serena, Andrea; Santin, Marianna; Marchiori, Stefano; Surico, Nicola; Amoruso, Elena; Longo, Daniela; Gussetti, Nadia

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.02.043

« Previous Next »European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 144, Issue 2 , Pages 115-118, June 2009

GB virus C infection in pregnancy: Maternal and perinatal importance of the infection

Delia Paternoster
- Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University of Piemonte Orientale, c.so Mazzini 18, Novara, Italy
- Corresponding author.
Andrea Serena
- Department of Gynaecological Sciences and Human Reproduction, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Marianna Santin
- Department of Gynaecological Sciences and Human Reproduction, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Stefano Marchiori
- Department of Gynaecological Sciences and Human Reproduction, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Nicola Surico
- Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University of Piemonte Orientale, c.so Mazzini 18, Novara, Italy
Elena Amoruso
- Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University of Piemonte Orientale, c.so Mazzini 18, Novara, Italy
Daniela Longo
- Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University of Piemonte Orientale, c.so Mazzini 18, Novara, Italy
Nadia Gussetti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

Received 9 January 2007; received in revised form 19 January 2009; accepted 20 February 2009. published online 16 March 2009.

Abstract

Objectives

The more effective way of transmission of GB virus C (GBV-C) is parenteral, but sexual and vertical transmission seem to be the main way of spreading. We evaluated the prevalence and the effect of GBV-C infection on pregnant women, vertical transmission and viral effects on the newborn.

Study design

This study has consecutively enrolled 879 pregnant women. All patients had blood sampling to determine GBV-C RNA, serologic tests for chronic viral infections and seric tests of hepatic damage. The newborns from infected mothers had blood sampling to detect the presence of GBV-C at birth, and after 3 and 6 months. Positive babies were checked until 18 months.

Results

36 (4.1%) women resulted GBV-C positive. Among the positive patients none presented complications during pregnancy. Neither embryonic-fetal abnormalities nor relevant differences in fetal birth weight and week of gestation at delivery were found. 20 out of 36 babies had a follow-up. At birth, 13 (65%) babies were positive. 4 out of 9 vaginal deliveries (44%) and 9 out of 11 cesarean sections (82%) resulted positive to GBV-C RNA. The risk of GBV-C vertical transmission was not significantly increased by type of delivery (p=0.274). At 3 months, 13 babies were GBV-C positive (65%) and 7 were negative (35%). At the end of the follow-up, 9 babies were positive (45%), while 11 were negative (55%).

Conclusion

The percentage of patients positive to GBV-C RNA was comparatively high (4.1%). This prevalence, in a population without particular risk factors, confirms that common ways of transmission, such as the sexual and vertical ones, might have an important role in viral diffusion. Our data suggest that the infection does not influence the course of pregnancy. The rate of transmission found in our study is high. Type of delivery does not seem to be actually involved in vertical transmission and the protective role of cesarean section has not been confirmed.

Keywords: GB virus C (GBV-C), HGV, Hepatitis G, Vertical transmission, Viral infection in pregnancy