Hepatitis B and C virus infection in Polish children with malignancies.
Infections by hepatotropic viruses belong to the most common complications of chemotherapy in children suffering from neoplastic diseases. The rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the effectiveness of passive immunization against HBV were studied in 285 children; 148/285 with lymphoproliferative diseases and 137/285 with solid tumours. HBV infection was observed in 10.2% children receiving hepatitis B immune globulin as compared to 36.8% without passive immunization against HBV. Anti-HCV antibodies were similar in both groups amounting 38.7% and 32.6% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that hepatitis B immune globulin administration is effective and that HCV might become the main cause of hepatitis among immunosuppressed patients in the future.
Januszkiewicz
D
D
Institute of Paediatrics, Academy of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Wysocki
J
J
Nowak
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines