Hepatitis C in Pregnancy

Question 1

How is Hepatitis C transmitted

Answer 1

• Incidence about 1% in Australian women of childbearing years
• Bloodborne transmission
• In Australia most commonly via IV drug use
• Immigrants may be exposed during medical procedures
• Health care workers infected via needle stick
• Vertical transmission

Question 2

Diagnosis

Answer 2

Chronic infection usually asymptomatic
If infected in adulthood >80% chronic infection rate
- All pregnant women should be tested at booking
- If positive do Hep C RNA and LFT
- HCV RNA negative
* False positive antibody
* Past cleared infection
* Past successfully treated infection
* Viraemia below assay detection level
* Advise hepatitis C antibody test on infant at 18/12
- HCV RNA positive
* Risk of perinatal transmission