PERINATOLOGIYA I PEDIATRIYA.2015.2(62):38-42;doi10.15574/PP.2015.62.38

Clinical and paraclinical aspects of chronic hepatitis C in children

Berezenko V. S., Tsaryova O. V.

SI «Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology NAMS of Ukraine», Kyiv, Ukraine

Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine

Purpose — to study the peculiarities of chronic hepatitis C in children, depending on the duration of the disease, genotype and viral load.

Materials and methods. The study involved 50 children with chronic hepatitis C aged 3–18 years. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination. The genotype and viral load were defined by polymerase chain reaction. Liver fibrosis was assessed using the index APRI. The clinical course of chronic hepatitis C was evaluated by the presence of clinical and laboratory syndromes throughout the entire period of the disease, which made it possible to identify three options — asymptomatic, active and relapsing course. The statistical analysis of the data was made.

Results. chronic hepatitis C in children is characterized to be predominantly asymptomatic or with minimal clinical symptoms, with low and minimal activity of hepatitis or transaminase rates unchanged. 56% of the survey had the horizontal route of infection (transfusion of blood and its components, surgical intervention). It was found that patients with a high viral load had predominantly active course of hepatitis. Children with active chronic hepatitis C and duration of the disease more than 10 years in terms of APRI index had the more pronounced course of liver fibrosis. The duration of the disease and active hepatitis are the progress predictors of liver fibrosis.

Conclusions. There is a correlation between viral load and chronic hepatitis C activity in children. The duration of HCV and active hepatitis are the progress predictors of liver fibrosis in children.

Key words: children, chronic hepatitis C, the clinic, the duration of the disease, genotype, viral load, fibrosis.