UNLABELLED: A 15-year-old girl with common variable immunodeficiency contracted hepatitis C, which progressed to liver cirrhosis and finally to hepatic failure 5 years later. Since she was agammaglobulinaemic, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was diagnosed on the basis of HCV-RNA detection. Quantification of her sera showed high levels of HCV-RNA (more than 10(7) copies of RNA/mL), which implied active viral replication. There were no other hepatotoxic factors except HCV infection. The initial liver biopsy at 16 years of age and the autopsy confirmed a rapid progression in liver histopathological change over 4 years. CONCLUSION: Contrary to the widely held view of a benign short-term prognosis in paediatric hepatitis C, progressive fatal liver disease can develop in some patients with HCV infection. Such a rapid progression of liver injury provides the rationale for antiviral therapy in at least certain high risk groups of these children. Hepatitis C may progress rapidly in an immune deficiency condition.
UNLABELLED: A 15-year-old girl with common variable immunodeficiency contracted hepatitis C, which progressed to liver cirrhosis and finally to hepatic failure 5 years later. Since she was agammaglobulinaemic, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was diagnosed on the basis of HCV-RNA detection. Quantification of her sera showed high levels of HCV-RNA (more than 10(7) copies of RNA/mL), which implied active viral replication. There were no other hepatotoxic factors except HCV infection. The initial liver biopsy at 16 years of age and the autopsy confirmed a rapid progression in liver histopathological change over 4 years. CONCLUSION: Contrary to the widely held view of a benign short-term prognosis in paediatric hepatitis C, progressive fatal liver disease can develop in some patients with HCV infection. Such a rapid progression of liver injury provides the rationale for antiviral therapy in at least certain high risk groups of these children. Hepatitis C may progress rapidly in an immune deficiency condition.
Authors: K Kiyosawa; T Sodeyama; E Tanaka; Y Gibo; K Yoshizawa; Y Nakano; S Furuta; Y Akahane; K Nishioka; R H Purcell Journal: Hepatology Date: 1990-10 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: J Y Lau; G L Davis; J Kniffen; K P Qian; M S Urdea; C S Chan; M Mizokami; P D Neuwald; J C Wilber Journal: Lancet Date: 1993-06-12 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: L B Seeff; Z Buskell-Bales; E C Wright; S J Durako; H J Alter; F L Iber; F B Hollinger; G Gitnick; R G Knodell; R P Perrillo Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1992-12-31 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: G Kuo; Q L Choo; H J Alter; G L Gitnick; A G Redeker; R H Purcell; T Miyamura; J L Dienstag; M J Alter; C E Stevens Journal: Science Date: 1989-04-21 Impact factor: 47.728