[Prospective study of combination of interferon-alpha with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children].
OBJECTIVE
To explore more efficacious therapy for chronic hepatitis C in children.


METHODS
With combination of recombinant interferon-alpha/ribavirin therapy, we treated 15 children, with viral sera and biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C, who did not respond to the treatment of interferon-alpha alone and had frequently relapse, with the disease courses of 5-9 years (mean 4.5 years). Mean age of the children (12 males and 3 females) was 6.8 years (6 months-10 years). 14 patients had blood transfusion history.


RESULTS
HCV RNA in 12 patients was negative after combined treatment of 3 months (1.5-5 months). None of the patients treated had skin rash and severe adverse reaction. Transient fever and influenza-like symptoms with combined therapy were similar to those with interferon-alpha therapy alone. Hemoglobin level decreased slightly in 9 patients (mean decrease by 5 g/L; max, 20 g/L). Reticulocytes elevated slightly. White blood cells, platelets, Bun and Cr were normal in all the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that combination of interferon-alpha with ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C in children is efficacious, safe and reliable. It deserves popularization.
Zhang
H
H
Department of Pediatric Hepatology, 302nd Hospital of PLA, Beijing 10003, China.
Yang
G
G
Yang
X
X
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin