title: Early virological response in children with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is widespread worldwide. It is estimated that this problem affects approximately 3% of global population. By introducing weekly doses of pegylated interferon (IFN) alfa in combination with ribavirin, given daily, to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment one can achieve a full inhibition of HCV replication in 54-56% of adult patients. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between prognostic factors and early virological response (EVR) after combination treatment with peginterferon alfa- 2a or alfa-2b and ribavirin in children with CHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three children with chronic HCV were treated with a combination of peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b once a week and ribavirin twice a day. Assessment included age at the time of infection, the length of infection, HCV genotype, viral load in serum and HCV RNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and adherence to therapy. The efficacy endpoint was EVR defined as undetectable HCV RNA in serum or >2 log10 decrease in HCV RNA compared with baseline values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An EVR was achieved in 15 out of 23 patients (65.3%) after 12 weeks of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower HCV RNA viral load have positive influence on EVR. HCV RNA presence in PBMCs and lower ALT activity do not influence the achievement of EVR. Oncologic history does not bear any influence on EVR. Adherence to the therapy has an unclear influence on the achievement of EVR in children with CHC.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland. arletakp1@wp.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowala-Piaskowska
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Słuzewski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figlerowicz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mozer-Lisewska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b