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. 2022 Dec 1;140(6):997-999.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004980. Epub 2022 Nov 2.

Timing of Positive Hepatitis C Virus Test Results During and 1 Year Before Pregnancy

Kate R Woodworth  1 , Suzanne M Newton, Emily O Olsen, Ayzsa Tannis, Lindsey Sizemore, Heather Wingate, Lauren Orkis, Bethany Reynolds, Nicole Longcore, Nadia Thomas, Angelica Bocour, Aprielle Wills, Shin Y Kim, Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, Carolyn Wester, Dana Delman Meaney, Suzanne M Gilboa, Van T Tong
Affiliations

Timing of Positive Hepatitis C Virus Test Results During and 1 Year Before Pregnancy

Kate R Woodworth et al. Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in reproductive-aged adults quadrupled during the past decade. Hepatitis C can progress to advanced liver disease and be transmitted perinatally. Highly effective curative hepatitis C treatment is available but is not recommended in pregnancy. Using the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network, we describe timing of positive RNA testing among pregnant people with HCV (HCV RNA detected during or within one year prior to pregnancy). Four US jurisdictions reported 1161 pregnancies during 2018-2021 among people with hepatitis C: 75.9% were multiparous; and 21.4% had their first peri-pregnancy HCV RNA detected prior to pregnancy, indicating potential missed treatment opportunities to improve maternal health and prevent perinatal transmission.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosure The authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.

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