title: Mannose-binding lectin in chronic hepatitis C in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate effect of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) genetic polymorphisms and phenotype in chronic hepatitis C and its impact on response to antiviral therapy in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty four children with chronic hepatitis C, aged 2.5-18 years were enrolled. Forty-five children were treated with interferon-α (IFN-α) alone (n = 2) or IFN-α and ribavirin (n = 43). Twenty-one children who responded to antiviral therapy were defined as sustained responders to therapy (IFN-SR). Before therapy, MBL genotypes and serum MBL levels (by ELISA) were determined. MBL genotype distribution and levels were correlated to disease characteristics and response to therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with chronic hepatitis C who did not respond to antiviral therapy (IFN-NR) presented more frequently MBL2 polymorphisms, although this did not reach significance (p = 0.08). MBL levels were significantly lower in children classified as IFN-NR when compared to children defined as IFN-SR (1.623 ng/ml vs. 3.699 ng/ml), (p = 0.04). Serum activity levels of ALT and AST were higher in children with A/O MBL genotype when compared to group with A/A genotype (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest negative effect of MBL deficiency (defined by genotype and phenotype) on progression of chronic hepatitis C in children and response to antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Paediatrics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Research Institute , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka Balbina
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dzwonek
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woźniakowska-GĘsicka
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiśniewska-Ligier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: genetics; hepatitis-viral; immunology