title: Treatment and follow up of children with chronic hepatitis C in Albania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of Hepatitis C in children has a better outcome than in adults, and for this reason the treatment had different views. However, in pediatric age hepatitis C is seen to have an evolution towards chronicity. Today is a normal option to treat chronic hepatitis C as early as possible according to certain criteria. The aim of this study is to show the results of treatment with interferon and ribavirin and the follow-up of children diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C in our service.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective study which has included children 3 up to 15 years old (13 boys and 4 girls) diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. All patients underwent a certain protocol, including liver biopsy prior to treatment. Treatment consisted in use for 48 weeks of INF α-2b, 3 MIU/m2 three times a week s/c and ribavirin 15 mg/kg orally divided bid. Two patients were treated with PEGINF α-2b with dose 1.5 mcg/kg once a week s/c and ribavirin 15 mg/kg. After the treatment all patients have stayed under our control for an average period of 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the treatment we detected a patient with HCV-RNA positive. End Treatment Viral Response was 94%. Six months later we found three patients who showed relapse of disease. Sustained Viral Response was approximately 83%
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination therapy of interferon with Ribavirin in treatment of children with chronic hepatitis C provides a higher SVR when treatment is initiated at the earliest stages of hepatic changes. Side effects of therapy are insignificant in comparison with results obtained.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Planning Directory, Ministry of Health, Bulevardi " Bajram Curri", no 1, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: Virtut
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Velmishi
authors.forename: Ermira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dervishi
authors.forename: Paskal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cullufi
authors.forename: Donjeta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Vjollca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durro
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000415:Albania; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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