Session:

Virology and Viral Infections (Non-HIV)

Abstract No.:

40.003

Title:

Specific HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes detection correlated to the age of pregnant women in Iraq

Author(s):

W. Al-Kubaisy; UiTM- Faculty of medicine, PHPM, Shah Alam, SELANGO/MY

Abstract:

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is age dependent disease, affecting more than 170 millions worldwide. The six genotype of HCV that recognized in different prevalence and geographic distribution have been shown to be associated with age and mode of transmission. Little is known, about this issue among pregnant women.Objectives: To determine the correlation of HCV markers (Abs, RNA and genotypes) with maternal age.
Methods: Multi-central cross-sectional study. Sample of 3491 pregnant women, during their third trimester. HCV-antibodies of 3491 maternal sera were investigated, using third generation; enzyme immunoassay (EIA-3) and immunoblot assay (Lia Tek-III) subsequently, as screening test and confirmatory tests respectively. In addition molecular analysis carried-out on  94 maternal sera (at laboratories of Sorin  BioMedica – Italy) for detecting HCV RNA and genotypes. Using RT-PCR & DNA Enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) method.
Results: Seropositive prevalence of; HCV Abs ,HCV-RNA were 3.21%., 62.7% respectively. Pregnant women with positive HCV Abs and RNA sera, were significantly older (30.3+7.8, 30.7+7.7 years respectively) than those with negative HCV Abs, HCV-RNA (27.15+7.26, 26.6+6.66 years, P=0.0001, P=0.01). Interestingly, pregnant women with age  ≥30 years considered as a high risk mothers for acquiring HCV infection, ORs and (95% C.I.) were 1.72 (1.17-2.5) and 3.51 (1.96-6.18) for age 30-39, ≥40 years. Significant direct Positive linear correlation for HCV Abs, HCV-RNA seropositive rate with increased maternal age were detected. Moreover, by multivariate regression analysis, age of the mother was found independently as unconfounding risk factor for contracting HCV infection (adjusted OR=1.06, 95% C.I.=1.03-1.09).Although no significant relationship between maternal age and various HCV genotypes/subtypes. However, our study found that women infected with HCV-1b were significantly older than those infected with HCV non 1b (33.9+5.4 versus 27.9+9.5 years, respectively), P=0.05.
Conclusion: Prevalence of HCV infection significantly increases with increased maternal age, woman at age ≥30 year are considered as a risk group for HCV infection. Pregnant women infected with HCV-b were significantly older than those infected with HCV other than 1b. Therefore, HCV screening for every pregnant woman and further studies to identify other risk factors are recommended.