Chen S.-T.YEN-HSUAN NIPEI-JER CHENHUEY-LING CHENYUNG-MING JENGLu M.-Y.JIA-FENG WUHONG-YUAN HSUMEI-HWEI CHANG2021-07-032021-07-0320091352-0504https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84984548399&doi=10.1111%2fj.1365-2893.2009.01135.x&partnerID=40&md5=af7a1333ed1e8ac833ff2b22ff1794fehttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/568593Summary. The significance of hepatitis C viral (HCV)-RNA levels in long-term clinical outcomes of children with chronic HCV infection is not well understood. We conducted a long-term follow-up study of 42 children with chronic HCV infection that included clinical evaluation, biochemical tests, HCV genotyping and repeated quantitative HCV-RNA detection. Patients were divided into low and high viraemia groups according to RNA levels at enrollment (below/above 4.5 × 104 IU/mL), and clinical, biochemical and virological factors were evaluated. Overall, 14.3% (6/42) of patients developed spontaneous viral clearance during a median 10.1 years of follow-up. HCV-RNA levels at enrollment and mean RNA levels during follow-up for each patient were significantly correlated (R = 0.9018, 95% CI: 0.6637-0.9038, P ? 0.001). HCV-RNA level fluctuation was within two log units in 76% of patients. Cumulative viraemia probability during follow-up could be predicted by viraemia levels at enrollment (P = 0.0092). Chronic HCV-infected children, with an RNA level below 4.5 × 104 IU/mL at enrollment, have a higher spontaneous viral clearance rate. ? 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.[SDGs]SDG3alanine aminotransferase; albumin; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; prothrombin; virus RNA; adolescent; article; child; child health; childhood disease; clinical article; follow up; genotype; hepatitis C; human; preschool child; priority journal; remission; school child; viremia; virus loadjournal article10.1111/j.1365-2893.2009.01135.x2-s2.0-84984548399