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Retrospective screening for hepatitis C in a tertiary paediatric referral centre
C McKeown1, U Thaker, W D Cubitt
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London WC1N 3JH.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening in UK children is not standard. A study found 1.97% seroprevalence in high-risk adults transfused before 1991, suggesting targeted screening is valuable.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in UK children remains unknown.
- Vertical transmission is anticipated to increase HCV cases in children.
- Targeted screening for HCV is not a standard practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in high-risk patient groups.
- To assess patients transfused with blood or blood products before 1991.
Main Methods:
- An extension of the Department of Health's 'look-back' exercise was conducted.
- 595 patients transfused between 1971-1991 were traced and offered testing.
- 405 blood samples were analyzed for HCV antibodies and/or HCV RNA via RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Eight patients tested positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- The HCV seroprevalence rate in this cohort was 1.97%.
- The HCV genome detection rate was 1.72%.
Conclusions:
- Targeted screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is valuable in high-risk patient groups.
- Early detection and treatment are important due to long-term complications and available antiviral agents.
Abstract:
The true prevalence of hepatitis C virus in children in the UK is not known and targeted screening is not standard practice despite an anticipated rise in new cases due to vertical transmission. An extension of the Department of Health's 'look-back' exercise was undertaken in order to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in high-risk patient groups who were transfused with blood and/or blood products before 1991. Five hundred and ninety-five patients transfused between 1971-91 were traced and offered counselling and testing. Blood samples from 405 were analysed for the presence of HCV antibodies and/or HCV RNA by RT-PCR and eight patients were found to be positive. The HCV seroprevalence rate in this cohort was 1.97% and the HCV genome detection rate was 1.72%. In view of the long-term complications from this infection and the availability of potentially effective anti-viral agents, we feel that targeted screening is of value in this setting.
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