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Management of chronic hepatitis C infection in children

Anthony F Porto1, Lauren Tormey, Joseph K Lim

  • 1Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with chronic hepatitis C infection can achieve high viral eradication rates with new antiviral therapies. Early treatment decisions should consider individual patient factors and liver fibrosis stage.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C infection poses a global health challenge, leading to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and complications.
  • Antiviral therapy in children is debated due to slow disease progression and limited efficacy of older treatments.
  • Interferon-based treatments in children have shown limited success and significant adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of hepatitis C epidemiology in children.
  • To summarize the natural history of chronic hepatitis C in pediatric populations.
  • To discuss updated management strategies, including antiviral therapy for children.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent prospective studies on pediatric hepatitis C treatment.
  • Analysis of sustained virologic response rates with specific antiviral regimens.
  • Consideration of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for pediatric use.

Main Results:

  • Two large prospective studies reported high sustained virologic response rates.
  • Rates of 53% (genotype 1) with peginterferon α-2b-ribavirin and 47% (genotype 1) with peginterferon α-2a-ribavirin were observed.
  • These combination regimens received FDA approval for treating children with chronic hepatitis C.

Conclusions:

  • Children with hepatitis C may benefit from timely antiviral treatment.
  • Treatment decisions require personalized assessment of patient and viral factors.
  • The stage of liver fibrosis is a critical consideration in therapeutic planning.
Abstract

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