Hepatitis C virus infection and liver disease in children with thalassemia.
Antibody to the recently identified HCV and type of liver disease were investigated in 25 children with homozygous beta thalassemia. All patients were tested at regular intervals by second generation ORTHO-ELISA test. 19/25 (76%) patients were found repeatedly positive: in 11 cases seroconversion from anti-HCV- to anti-HCV+ status could be also documented. Liver disease was more severe in anti-HCV positive children. Seroconversion however did not produce major changes in liver disease outcome.
Locasciulli
A
A
Division of Pediatric Hematology, University of Milano, Monza, Italy.
Monguzzi
W
W
Tornotti
G
G
Bianco
P
P
Masera
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000209:etiology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine