What's New in Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Children?

Overview

Journal World J Gastroenterol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2015 Oct 20

PMID 26478670

Citations 5

Authors

Malgorzata Pawlowska

Krzysztof Domagalski

Anna Pniewska

Beata Smok

Waldemar Halota

Andrzej Tretyn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cases is relatively low in children. This low number may be connected with the lack of screening tests and the asymptomatic course of infection. Currently, mother-to-infant transmission is the most common cause of HCV infection amongst children in developed countries. It is important to introduce routine screening tests for HCV in pregnant women. The risk of vertical transmission of HCV is estimated at approximately 5% (3%-10%). Currently, we do not have HCV transmission prevention methods. Some factors could potentially be eliminated by elective caesarean section. Currently, the method of prevention of perinatal HCV infection is the early identification and effective treatment of infections in young women in the preconception period. We describe genetic tests (IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphisms) to identify children with an increased chance of spontaneous clearance or sustained virologic response achievement and vitamin D level as a potential predictor of treatment response in children. It is also important to develop non-invasive tests that can predict liver fibrosis. The existence of differences in the mechanisms leading to liver injury between children and adults creates new perspectives of action to reduce liver disease progression in children in the early years of life.

Citing Articles

Eliminating viral hepatitis C in Belgium: the micro-elimination approach.

Busschots D, Toghanian S, Bielen R, Salomonsson S, Koc O, Hendrickx G BMC Infect Dis. 2020; 20(1):181.

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Three Children Treated with Direct-acting Antivirals for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection.

Ohya K, Kawaoka T, Imamura M, Morio K, Nakahara T, Murakami E Intern Med. 2019; 59(7):941-944.

PMID: 31813916 PMC: 7184084. DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3824-19.

Mechanisms and Prevention of Vertical Transmission in Chronic Viral Hepatitis.

Mavilia M, Wu G J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2017; 5(2):119-129.

PMID: 28660149 PMC: 5472932. DOI: 10.14218/JCTH.2016.00067.

Paediatric Virology: A rapidly increasing educational challenge.

Mammas I, Theodoridou M, Kramvis A, Thiagarajan P, Gardner S, Papaioannou G Exp Ther Med. 2017; 13(2):364-377.

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Hepatitis C Viral Infection in Children: Updated Review.

El-Guindi M Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2016; 19(2):83-95.

PMID: 27437184 PMC: 4942315. DOI: 10.5223/pghn.2016.19.2.83.

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