Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
07:25

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children

Regino P González-Peralta1

  • 1Pediatric Liver Program and Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0296, USA. regino@peds.ufl.edu

Pediatric Transplantation
|December 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children can lead to serious liver disease. Antiviral treatments show moderate success, with factors like HCV genotype influencing outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hepatology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses risks to children through blood products, transplants, and maternal transmission.
  • While often asymptomatic, chronic HCV in children can progress to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Pediatric treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis C are largely adapted from adult clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the understanding of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children.
  • To assess the efficacy and adverse events of current and emerging antiviral therapies for pediatric HCV.
  • To identify factors influencing treatment response in children with HCV.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and studies on HCV treatment in pediatric populations.
  • Analysis of treatment outcomes, including sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.
  • Evaluation of adverse events associated with antiviral therapies in children.

Main Results:

  • Conventional interferon monotherapy achieved SVR in approximately 36% of children.
  • Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin increased SVR to about 50%.
  • Favorable response predictors in children mirror adult data, including HCV genotypes 2 or 3 and low baseline viral load.

Conclusions:

  • Current interferon-based treatments offer moderate efficacy in children with chronic hepatitis C.
  • Pegylated interferon's role in pediatric HCV treatment requires further investigation.
  • Adverse events such as flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and cytopenias are common in treated children.

More Related Videos

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target11:34

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

Published on: May 10, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...