ORN Summer 2024 - Hepatitis C Virus in Pregnancy: An Opportunity to Screen and Treat-Recording - Hepatitis C Virus in Pregnancy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar on "Hepatitis C Virus in Pregnancy: An Opportunity to Screen and Treat," led by Dr. Catherine Chappell, highlighted the importance of screening and potential treatment for hepatitis C in pregnant women. Dr. Chappell emphasized the significant epidemiological shift, noting increased prevalence among reproductive-age individuals due to the opioid crisis, leading to a trimodal distribution potentially affecting children. Hepatitis C during pregnancy can have adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including potential perinatal transmission leading to chronic infection in infants.<br /><br />Screening strategies have evolved from risk-based to universal screening recommended by various health organizations, improving detection rates significantly. Despite these recommendations, universal screening faces challenges such as implementation difficulties and resistance based on the perceived lack of immediate actionable steps during pregnancy.<br /><br />Dr. Chappell stressed the necessity of co-located care and careful planning in treatment approaches to enhance follow-up care postpartum. Studies like HIP1 and HIP2 investigate the pharmacokinetics and safety of DAAs in pregnancy, showing promising results for in-pregnancy treatment with minimal adverse effects and ensuring viral load suppression.<br /><br />The STORC study aims to further assess treatment efficacy and safety on a larger scale, with an optimistic outlook towards integrating treatment during pregnancy to reduce perinatal transmission and improve maternal health. Engaging women in hepatitis C treatment postpartum is crucial yet challenging due to low follow-up rates.<br /><br />Dr. Chappell also addressed various questions regarding screening, treatment logistics, and recruiting challenges, advocating for an evidence-based approach to incorporate hepatitis C treatment within the antenatal care framework, maximizing the engagement period during pregnancy.

Keywords

Hepatitis C

Pregnancy

Screening

Treatment

Epidemiology

Opioid crisis

Perinatal transmission

DAAs

Postpartum care

Antenatal care