Posttransfusion and community-acquired hepatitis C in childhood.

摘要: Following a longitudinal study of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis in Italy and Spain, we evaluated the epidemiologic clinical features C 77 consecutively observed children (35 male; mean age, 4 years) without underlying systemic diseases. All subjects were positive for antibody to virus serum by second-generation tests. Forty-six patients had received blood transfusions perinatal period; 12 mother with antibodies HCV (five these mothers drug users or partners user); seven history putative percutaneous exposure; not been exposed any risk factors viral hepatitis. At presentation, only 22% symptomatic, alanine-aminotransferase levels three times upper normal value, liver histology showed active disease nine 28 cases (32%). During observation period 6 years, 11 57 (19%) complained symptoms 40 (27%) histologic Two severe associated cirrhosis. However, six (10%) achieved sustained biochemical remission. The outcome similar both posttransfusion community-acquired cases. These results indicate that are single most important cause otherwise healthy children. Community-acquired represent an heterogeneous group which maternal transmission, whether postnatal, could be relevant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)