title: Vitamin D status and viral response to therapy in hepatitis C infected children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to evaluate the role of vitamin D supplementation in improving antiviral therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six children aged from 7-14 years (mean ± SD, 11.17±2.293) diagnosed with HCV infection were matched to 28 healthy controls. Serum levels of 25 (OH) D3, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and plasma level of parathormone were measured. Quantitative PCR for HCV was performed Bone density was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. All cases received conventional therapy, and only 33 patients received vitamin D supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with HCV showed significantly increased levels of HCV RNA (P<0.001), parathormone (P<0.01) and decreased vitamin D levels (P<0.05) (33.3% deficient and 43.3% insufficient) compared with controls. Abnormal bone status (Z score -1.98±0.75) was found in ribs, L-spine, pelvis and total body. Cases treated with vitamin D showed significant higher early (P<0.04) and sustained (P<0.05) virological response. There was a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency among the Egyptian HCV children, with significant decrease in bone density. The vitamin D level should be assessed before the start of antiviral treatment with the correction of any detected deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding vitamin D to conventional Peg/RBV therapy significantly improved the virological response and helped to prevent the risk of emerging bone fragility.
authors: Azza A Eltayeb, Children University Hospital, Assiut University, 71515 Assiut, Egypt.
authors: Azza A
authors: AA
authors: Eltayeb
authors: Azza A Eltayeb, Children University Hospital, Assiut University, 71515 Assiut, Egypt.
authors: Madleen Adel A
authors: MA
authors: Abdou
authors: Azza A Eltayeb, Children University Hospital, Assiut University, 71515 Assiut, Egypt.
authors: Amal M
authors: AM
authors: Abdel-aal
authors: Azza A Eltayeb, Children University Hospital, Assiut University, 71515 Assiut, Egypt.
authors: Mostafa H
authors: MH
authors: Othman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C470125:PTH protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014807:Vitamin D; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Children; Hepatitis C; Viral response; Vitamin D
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