HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN FAMILY MEMBERS OF CHRONIC CARRIERS

: To determine the transmission of hepatitis C in family members of chronic carriers we study the results of a HCV seroprevalence among spouses and children living together with patients affected by HCV related chronic liver disease. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies and mean cohabitation time was determined among 54 index patients, their 54 spouses and 99 children. Twelve spouses (22.2%) and no children were anti-HCV positive, with an overall seroprevalence of 7.8%. Couples with both anti-HCV positive partners had a mean cohabitation time (31.8 +/- 10.4 years) higher compared to couples with only one anti-HCV positive partner (24.6 +/- 9.9 years) and children (19.1 +/- 10.2 years). Sexual transmission of HCV infection cannot be excluded and its prevalence is strongly associated to the length of cohabitation time.