Familial clustering of hepatitis C virus in a Pakistani population

Abstract

Pakistan has the second highest burden of Hepatitis C in the world. A total of 683 individuals, who visited liver clinic during the study period, were screened for the presence of HCV infection. 534 individuals showed positive HCV infection were grouped in case group and 149 individuals with HCV negative status were grouped in control group. A detailed questionnaire was used to take demographic, clinical, HCV risk factor and familial clustering data. HCV familial clustering was found 30.1% in case group compared with 17.4% in control group. We also found 17% of patients had spouses who were also infected with HCV compared to 4% spouse infection in control group. Only 3.7% of patients had HCV positive mothers. These results were further expanded by regression analysis that showed family history and sexual history are independent risk factors for transmission of hepatitis C infection and mother's history has no significance as risk factor for transmission. The major risk factor for getting HCV infection are dental procedures, unsafe injections, surgery and blood transfusions. There is strong need to increase awareness about HCV transmission routes among positive patients to reduce the chances of HCV familial clustering.