The prevalence of hepatitis C in survivors of paediatric malignancy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C in 200 patients with paediatric malignancies, surviving in remission more than 5 years from diagnosis, who had received blood product transfusions before 1990 when routine screening of blood products for hepatitis C began.


METHODS
The second and third generation Abbott Diagnostics ELISA was used to assess hepatitis C seropositivity. Seropositive patients and those with abnormal liver transaminases were assessed by hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
A low incidence (4%) of seropositivity for hepatitis C was found in survivors of paediatric malignancy who were transfused prior to routine screening of blood products in this cohort.


CONCLUSIONS
All patients identified have evidence of hepatitis and may be at high risk of developing cirrhosis.
Carter
T L
TL
Haematology/Oncology Department, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, Western Australia.
Cole
C H
CH
Mews
C F
CF
Price
P J
PJ
Baker
D L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017741:Survivors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase