Hepatitis C viral infection in thalassemic children: Clinical and molecular studies
Journal
Pediatric Research
Journal Volume
39
Journal Issue
2
Pages
323-328
Date Issued
1996
Author(s)
Abstract
To determine and correlate the liver function profile, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, anti-HCV, genotypes, quantitation, and nucleotide sequence variability in polytransfused thalassemic children, 61 such children were studied prospectively for 4 y. Twenty-six had HCV infection. The average age, number of transfusions, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of the HCV- infected group were higher than those of the 35 children without HCV infection. None was infected after the initiation of anti-HCV screening in donor blood. Liver biopsies were performed in six HCV-infected and eight HCV- noninfected thalassemic children, and portal fibrosis was found more frequently in the HCV-infected group. Quantitation of HCV RNA was clone by the competitive polymerase chain reaction method, and the titer was about 1 x 106 to 5 x 108 copies/mL. The titer did not change significantly over the 4-y follow-up period and did not correlate with ALT levels. Nineteen HCV- infected patients were genotyped; 15 were Okamoto/Simmonds type II/1b, two were type III/2a, and two were type IV/2b. The hypervariable region of the HCV genome (E2/NS1) was cloned and sequenced in two serum samples from one patient collected at a 2-y interval, as the ALT levels decreased. The variation rate was estimated to be 1.2-1.7 x 10-2/nucleotide/y. The results showed that, in polytransfused thalassemic children, 43% (26/61) contracted HCV. We conclude that HCV infection may cause elevated ALT levels and portal fibrosis of the liver, whereas the viral titer and genotypes do not parallel ALT levels.
SDGs
Other Subjects
alanine aminotransferase; hepatitis B surface antigen; adolescent; adult; article; controlled study; disease association; female; genetic variability; hepatitis C; human; human cell; liver biopsy; liver function test; major clinical study; male; priority journal; RNA analysis; thalassemia
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Type
journal article