Autoimmune phenomena in treated and naive pediatric patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Abstract

Chronic viral hepatitis has been incriminated for inducing autoimmune events, but it is a known fact that interferon-based therapies also promote autoimmunity. We conducted an observational prospective study which included 114 pediatric patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C. The patients were divided in 2 groups, the first group consisted of treatment-naive patients; the second group included patients who had received interferon-based therapy. We aimed to determine whether the ones who received treatment are more predisposed to developing autoimmune manifestations when compared to those naive. Fifty percent of the study group was found to have serological autoimmune phenomenon. Our research shows that the occurrence of the autoimmune phenomenon is delayed when the patient is treated with interferon-based regimens when compared to naive patients. Hence, even though interferon treatment has been reported to promote autoimmunity, the viruses themselves are more likely to induce the appearance of autoimmune markers over time in patients who do not receive treatment.

[Editorial] Highlights of the 3rd conference of the Romanian Association of Immuno‑Dermatology and the 37th conference of the Romanian Society of Immunology held in Bucharest between September 19 and 22, 2019

“…Păcurar et al (21), in their article entitled ‘Autoimmune phenomena in treated and naive pediatric patients with chronic viral hepatitis’ demonstrated that the occurrence of autoimmune phenomena was delayed when the patient was treated with interferon-based regimens when compared to naive patients.…”