Abstract
Seventeen children with vertically acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were followed from birth for a mean of 104 months. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were increased significantly at 3 and 6 months of age but were stable thereafter. HCV polymerase chain reaction was positive at 3 months in 16 patients and at 12 months in one patient. Viral load remained stable during follow-up at a mean value of 5.4 ± 0.4 log10. Mild chronic hepatitis was the most common histopathological feature on liver biopsy, occurring in six of the seven children biopsied at a mean age of 4.0 ± 2.4 years. Genotype did not seem to be related to the type of liver involvement. The results of this study suggest that vertically acquired HCV infection has a benign course in children, despite the presence of viraemia and persistent alterations in ALT levels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 215-222 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of International Medical Research |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2006 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Hepatitis C virus infection
- Natural history of disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Longitudinal long-term follow-up study of children with vertically acquired hepatitis C virus infection. / Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo; Salvini, F.; Farina, F.; Agostoni, C.; Riva, E.; Giovannini, M.
In: Journal of International Medical Research, Vol. 34, No. 2, 03.2006, p. 215-222.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal long-term follow-up study of children with vertically acquired hepatitis C virus infection
AU - Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo
AU - Salvini, F.
AU - Farina, F.
AU - Agostoni, C.
AU - Riva, E.
AU - Giovannini, M.
PY - 2006/3
Y1 - 2006/3
N2 - Seventeen children with vertically acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were followed from birth for a mean of 104 months. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were increased significantly at 3 and 6 months of age but were stable thereafter. HCV polymerase chain reaction was positive at 3 months in 16 patients and at 12 months in one patient. Viral load remained stable during follow-up at a mean value of 5.4 ± 0.4 log10. Mild chronic hepatitis was the most common histopathological feature on liver biopsy, occurring in six of the seven children biopsied at a mean age of 4.0 ± 2.4 years. Genotype did not seem to be related to the type of liver involvement. The results of this study suggest that vertically acquired HCV infection has a benign course in children, despite the presence of viraemia and persistent alterations in ALT levels.
AB - Seventeen children with vertically acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were followed from birth for a mean of 104 months. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were increased significantly at 3 and 6 months of age but were stable thereafter. HCV polymerase chain reaction was positive at 3 months in 16 patients and at 12 months in one patient. Viral load remained stable during follow-up at a mean value of 5.4 ± 0.4 log10. Mild chronic hepatitis was the most common histopathological feature on liver biopsy, occurring in six of the seven children biopsied at a mean age of 4.0 ± 2.4 years. Genotype did not seem to be related to the type of liver involvement. The results of this study suggest that vertically acquired HCV infection has a benign course in children, despite the presence of viraemia and persistent alterations in ALT levels.
KW - Children
KW - Hepatitis C virus infection
KW - Natural history of disease
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646790899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33646790899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 16749418
AN - SCOPUS:33646790899
VL - 34
SP - 215
EP - 222
JO - Journal of International Medical Research
JF - Journal of International Medical Research
SN - 0300-0605
IS - 2
ER -