title: What's new in hepatitis C virus infections in children?
abstract: The number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cases is relatively low in children. This low number may be connected with the lack of screening tests and the asymptomatic course of infection. Currently, mother-to-infant transmission is the most common cause of HCV infection amongst children in developed countries. It is important to introduce routine screening tests for HCV in pregnant women. The risk of vertical transmission of HCV is estimated at approximately 5% (3%-10%). Currently, we do not have HCV transmission prevention methods. Some factors could potentially be eliminated by elective caesarean section. Currently, the method of prevention of perinatal HCV infection is the early identification and effective treatment of infections in young women in the preconception period. We describe genetic tests (IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphisms) to identify children with an increased chance of spontaneous clearance or sustained virologic response achievement and vitamin D level as a potential predictor of treatment response in children. It is also important to develop non-invasive tests that can predict liver fibrosis. The existence of differences in the mechanisms leading to liver injury between children and adults creates new perspectives of action to reduce liver disease progression in children in the early years of life.
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlowska
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domagalski
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pniewska
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smok
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Halota
authors.affiliation: Malgorzata Pawlowska, Anna Pniewska, Beata Smok, Waldemar Halota, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Haepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-030 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tretyn
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C091236:ITIH4 protein, human
keywords: Biomarkers of liver injury; Epidemiology; Hepatitis C virus; Infection in children; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Vertical infection