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Hepatitis C virus infection in infants and children from Argentina

María Inés Gismondi1, Estela Inés Turazza, Saúl Grinstein

  • 1Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, C1425EFD Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. migiamondi@yahoo.com.ar

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|March 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection shows high viral loads and varied viremia patterns. Further research is needed to understand the causes of high HCV replication in children.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rare in children, with its natural history poorly understood.
  • Limited data exists on HCV exposure and outcomes in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze HCV exposure in 48 infants and children in Argentina.
  • To evaluate the early outcomes of HCV infection in 26 pediatric patients through serial sample analysis.

Main Methods:

  • HCV viremia was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  • HCV genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
  • HCV viral load was quantified using the AMPLICOR MONITOR assay.

Main Results:

  • Genotype 1 was the predominant HCV strain; no genotype shifts were observed.
  • Perinatal transmission was common in infants born to mothers coinfected with HCV and HIV.
  • No correlation was found between HCV viral load and liver enzyme levels (ALT, AST), though a trend towards higher levels was seen with consecutive positive RT-PCR results.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric HCV infection is characterized by high viral loads and diverse viremia patterns.
  • These patterns appear independent of age and transmission route in the studied cohort.
  • Further investigation is required to determine if high HCV replication relates to viral factors or host immune responses.

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