GB Virus C Coinfection and Vertical Transmission in HIV Positive Mothers

The objectives of the current study were to investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C) viremia and GBV-C antibodies in a cohort of HIV-infected mothers and their infants between 1987 and 1994.

GBV-C viremia and antibodies were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 52 HIV-infected mothers and their 53 infants, who were born before antiretroviral prophylaxis for reduction of HIV transmission was introduced at the end of 1994. Ten of these children acquired HIV.

Results

Mothers of three children had GBV-C viremia and mothers of another 14 children carried antibodies against GBV-C. No mother had GBV-C antibodies and GBV-C viremia simultaneously.

GBV-C viremia was detected in only one infant. This child was delivered by the vaginal route to a mother with GBV-C viremia, and was not HIV-infected.

No vertical transmission of GBV-C occurred from mothers with GBV-C antibodies. However, four of 10 children who were infected with HIV had a mother with past or ongoing GBV-C infection.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the authors write, “Our findings suggest that the risk of vertical transmission of GBV-C is not elevated in HIV-infected mothers. Furthermore, although the number of HIV-1-infected children was low, we saw no evidence that the presence of ongoing or past GBV-C infection influenced the probability of vertical HIV transmission.”

Department of Clinical Virology, Karolinska Insitutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

More Articles on GB virus C (GBV-C)

GB Virus C (GBV-C) Inhibits Replication of HIV and May Have a Causal Role in Prolonged Survival - 06/21/04

GB Virus C (GBV-C) Viremia at Diagnosis of HIV Does Not Predict Mortality in Untreated Patients - 04/13/04

Coinfection with HIV and GB Virus C (GBV-C) Infection Is Significantly Associated with Prolonged Survival 5 to 6 Years after HIV Seroconversion - 03/10/04

Prevalence of GBV-C Infection Among Dental Personnel - 04/30/03

GB Virus C (GBV-C) Clearance Is Frequent in HIV-HCV Coinfected Patients Receiving Interferon and Ribavirin and Does Not Elevate HIV RNA Levels - 10/29/03

Studies of the GB Virus Type C (GBV-C) at the 10th CROI - 03/05/03

GB Virus Type C (GBV-C): Friend or Foe? - 03/05/03

GB Virus (GBV-C) Infection Protects Against HIV Disease Progression - 02/14/03

GBV-C RNA Positive Patients Show Better Response to HAART - 02/05/03

Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) Infection Appears to Delay HIV Progression - 09/06/01

11/24/04

Reference
B Barqasho and others. GB virus C coinfection and vertical transmission in HIV-infected mothers before the introduction of antiretroviral prophylaxis. HIV Medicine 5(6): 427-30. November 2004.