[Clinical investigation on the treatment of HCMV hepatitis in children].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effective therapeutic method of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hepatitis in children.


METHODS
Twenty-five children with HCMV hepatitis were randomly assigned to a treated group (n=13) or a control group (n=12). Both groups were treated with prednisone, glucurone, luminal and Xiaoyanlidanpian. But the treated group was given ganciclovir (GCV) + intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in addition. Each infant of the two groups was checked for blood routine, liver function and HCMV copy numbers on admission and before discharge. They were seen at the third, sixth and ninth month after discharge. On each visit blood specimens were collected for HCMV copy numbers (fluorescence quantitative PCR, FQ-PCR).


RESULTS
The viral load of the treated group decreased significantly. A significant difference in viral copy numbers was found between the two groups on admission, discharge, and third, sixth and ninth month after discharge (P less than 0.001). The number of HCMV DNA copy fell to 10(3) copies/ml on discharge while that of the control group fell to the same level after the third month. The differences between the two groups in the length of hospitalization, time of initial jaundice disappearance and complete disappearance were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The need for transfusion in the treated group was significantly less than that in the control group (chi-square=4.012, P less than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Combination of GCV with a high dosage of IVIG to treat HCMV active infection could decrease viral load remarkably; The duration of disease, severity of symptoms, degree of anemia and the need for blood transfusion were reduced. No adverse effects related to the combination of GCV with IVIG therapy were observed.
Chen
Fen-hua
FH
Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Wang
Qing-wen
QW
Pan
Si-nian
SN
Chen
Hui-qin
HQ
Ji
Jing-zhi
JZ
He
Zheng-xian
ZX
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D015774:Ganciclovir