Maternal neutralizing antibody and transmission of hepatitis C virus to infants

To determine whether lower levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAb) are associated with an increased risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HCV, HCV nAb titers were assessed in 63 mothers coinfected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. Of the mothers, 16 transmitted HCV to their infant, but no difference was detected between the ability of maternal plasma from transmitters and nontransmitters to neutralize heterologous HCV pseudoparticles (median nAb titer, 1:125 vs. 1:100; P = .23). In the setting of HIV/HCV coinfection, we found no evidence that HCV nAbs are associated with the prevention of MTCT of HCV.