Retrospective screening for hepatitis C in a tertiary paediatric referral centre.
The true prevalence of hepatitis C virus in children in the UK is not known and targeted screening is not standard practice despite an anticipated rise in new cases due to vertical transmission. An extension of the Department of Health's 'look-back' exercise was undertaken in order to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in high-risk patient groups who were transfused with blood and/or blood products before 1991. Five hundred and ninety-five patients transfused between 1971-91 were traced and offered counselling and testing. Blood samples from 405 were analysed for the presence of HCV antibodies and/or HCV RNA by RT-PCR and eight patients were found to be positive. The HCV seroprevalence rate in this cohort was 1.97% and the HCV genome detection rate was 1.72%. In view of the long-term complications from this infection and the availability of potentially effective anti-viral agents, we feel that targeted screening is of value in this setting.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London WC1N 3JH.
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McKeown
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Thaker
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Cubitt
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Novelli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D012367:RNA, Viral