Hungarian Medical Journal
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2: Issue 3
Clinical Aspects of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Women of Child-Bearing Age
Authors: Béla Lombay Jr. 1 , Beáta Gasztonyi 2 , and Ferenc Szalay 3
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  • 1 Szent Ferenc Hospital Department of Internal Medicine Csabai kapu 42 H-3529 Miskolc Hungary
  • 2 Zala County Hospital Department of Internal Medicine Zalaegerszeg Hungary
  • 3 Semmelweis University 1st Department of Internal Medicine Budapest Hungary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/hmj.2.2008.28394
Page Count:
343–349
Publication Date:
01 Sep 2008
Online Publication Date:
28 Sep 2008
Article Category:
Research Article
Restricted access

It is difficult to define the optimal timing of the antiviral treatment in women infected with hepatitis C virus, who have child-bearing potential. Antiviral treatment is strictly contraindicated during the pregnancy and breast-feeding period. Data are conflicting about the question of treatment with modern drugs (peginterferon and ribavirin) before or after pregnancy. The risk of vertical transmission from mother to child is estimated about 5%. The mother’s viraemia seems to be the main transmission factor. There is a worse prognosis in nulliparous and postmenopausal women in the natural history of viral hepatitis C. Poor outcome in gestational age, maturity and Apgar score was not associated with hepatitis C virus infection. Combined antiviral treatment has frequent gynecological and other side-effects. The timing of the antiviral therapy in women in the child-bearing period is recommended individually.

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Cover Hungarian Medical Journal
Hungarian Medical Journal
Print ISSN:
1788-6139
Online ISSN:
1789-0403
Keywords:
hepatitis C; pegylated interferon and ribavirin; pregnancy; vertical transmission

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