title: [Autoimmunity in children with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin].
abstract: The role of interferon alpha or the virus itself in the pathogenesis and the risk of autoimmunological disorders in patients infected with HCV, still remain unknown, especially in children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of autoantibodies and the risk of autoimmunological disorders in children with chronic hepatitis C, treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin in the Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Oncology in Gdansk. In the studied group of 12 patients, in 4 cases autoantibodies were present in low titers prior to the treatment and they had no prognostic value for the response to the therapy or the risk of autoimmunological disorders. Positive response for the treatment was achieved in 4 cases; in 3 cases indications for discontinuation of the therapy were established. During the therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin, in 2 children elevation of serum titers of antibodies to liver-kidney microsome type 1 (anti-LKM1) (> 1:640) with normal gammaglobulin levels was noted. In none of the children autoimmunological disorders were observed.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Onkologii, Dziecieca Akademia Medyczna, 80-803 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gora-Gebka
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liberek
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bako
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raczkowska-Kozak
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sikorska-Wisniewska
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korzon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin