Hepatitis C virus infection in multi‐transfused children with haematological malignancy

Abstract

Transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important hazard of blood transfusion and may result in chronic liver disease. 98 children from Nottingham and Sheffield with haematological malignancies were studied to determine the prevalence of HCV infection by enzyme immunoassay and RT/PCR techniques. The children had been exposed to up to 184 donors through red cell and platelet transfusion, the majority prior to routine testing for HCV infection in blood donors. Only one sample showed evidence of HCV infection being both ELISA and RT/PCR positive. None of the samples taken since donor screening were positive. This provides reassurance as to the low rate of HCV acquisition in multi-transfused patients in this part of the U.K. compared to other parts of the world.

Impact of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infections in a Hematology-Oncology Unit at a Children's Hospital in Nicaragua, 1997 to 1999

“…Many of these children receive multiple transfusions of different blood components, and this could be a potential risk factor for acquiring such infections. Also the children are highly immunosuppressed, and therefore the manifestations of these infections are mostly subclinical and rarely noticed (16,17).…”

“…Many of these children receive multiple transfusions of different blood components, and this could be a potential risk factor for acquiring such infections. Also the children are highly immunosuppressed, and therefore the manifestations of these infections are mostly subclinical and rarely noticed (16,17).Over the last decade in the developed world all donated blood products have been screened for both HBV and HCV, and this has led to a major reduction in posttransfusion viral hepatitis (16, 28). However, in developing countries, these screening assays were introduced later and only partially in some areas; in some countries, they were not introduced at all.…”

Interferon treatment of chronic active hepatitis C during therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

“…The frequency of HCV infection among these children from southern Italy is similar to the 43% reported among 102 children with ALL from northern Italy [6]. However, it is in marked contrast to the finding of 1 of 98 children with hematologic malignancies from central England who had anti-HCV antibody or had detectable HCV by RT-PCR [4] and the 13% of 24 children with acute leukemia who were antibody positive against HCV from Massachusetts [14].…”

“…Individuals with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk for HCV infection since they usually receive at least one, and typically multiple, transfusions of blood products during the course of their disease [3]. The frequency of antibody to HCV in children with leukemia ranges from 1 to 43% [4][5][6][7]. Reports of interferon treatment of chronic active viral hepatitis have stressed the importance of waiting as long as two years after the completion of antineoplastic therapy to ensure immune competence [8,9].…”

Relevance of serology and molecular methods for detection of Hepatitis B virus in Egyptian children with hematological malignancy

“…Also the children are highly immunosuppressed, and therefore the manifestations of these infections are mostly subclinical and rarely noticed. 5,6 This study investigates the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children with hematological diseases with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also, to find the most appropriate method for diagnosis of acute hepatitis B in those children.…”