Treatment for chronic hepatitis C in children: a review.

The aim of this review was to evidence the actual treatment used for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children. A review of the use of interferon (IFN) as monotherapy in children demonstrates a sustained virological response (SVR) of 33%-45%. This is significantly better than the SVR rate for IFN monotherapy observed for adults. When the data are further scrutinized, the SVR for genotype 1 is 26% and 70% for other genotypes. The higher response rate observed in children might be the result of the earlier stage of the disease, higher relative IFN dosage, or lack of comorbid conditions. The use of IFN-alpha2b in combination with ribavirin was reported by Gonzalez-Peralta et al and has led to Food and Drug Administration approval of this therapy for children with a SVR significantly higher in children with HCV genotype 2/3 (84%) than in those with HCV genotype 1 (36%). About the use of pegylated IFN in combination with ribavirin, the first-line treatment in adult patients affected by chronic hepatitis C, there are few experiences. These preliminary experiences evidenced that combination treatment of PEG-IFN-alpha2b with ribavirin shows encouraging results and was well tolerated in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C.