Vertical transmission of hepatitis C: towards universal antenatal screening in the era of new direct acting antivirals (DAAs)?

Publication

Vertical transmission of hepatitis C: towards universal antenatal screening in the era of new direct acting antivirals (DAAs)?

Short review and analysis of the situation in Switzerland

Journal Paper/Review - Jan 6, 2016

Aebi-Popp Karoline, Duppenthaler Andrea, Rauch Andri, De Gottardi Andrea, Kahlert Christian

Units

Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine

Keywords

HCV Pregnancy Children DAA

Citation

Aebi-Popp K, Duppenthaler A, Rauch A, De Gottardi A, Kahlert C. Vertical transmission of hepatitis C: towards universal antenatal screening in the era of new direct acting antivirals (DAAs)? - Short review and analysis of the situation in Switzerland. Journal of Virus Eradication 2016

Type

Journal Paper/Review (Deutsch)

Journal

Journal of Virus Eradication 2016

Publication Date

Jan 6, 2016

Brief description/objective

At present, routine antenatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening is not recommended in pregnant women who do not have known risk factors for infection. The main reason for this attitude has been the lack of effective treatment options to avoid mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) during pregnancy or delivery. Hitherto available treatment regimens based on interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) were associated with sometimes long-lasting and severe side-effects and thus their indication had to be carefully evaluated. In addition, ribavirin has teratogenic and embryocidal effects and is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy. The situation has substantially changed with the advent of the newly available treatment regimens based on very effective and well-tolerated direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). The aim of this viewpoint is to briefly analyse, using the example of Switzerland, how recent developments in HCV therapy might impact prevention of HCV vertical transmission.