Introduction: With the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the past decade has seen a paradigm shift in the management of hepatitis C (HCV) infection in children. In this review, we summarize the various treatment options for pediatric HCV infection, highlighting the recent changes in the management.
Methods: A literature search was performed using the PubMed database with the relevant keywords. Filters included were human, ages 0-18 years, and the English language.
Results: Initial phase of HCV treatment using conventional or pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination regimens yielded poor outcomes in children, especially in genotypes 1 and 4, with an overall sustained virologic response of 58%. Also, treatment with interferon and ribavirin combination was associated with significant side effects in up to 52% of those treated. Presently, various combinations of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved in children above three years of age with documented evidence of high efficacy (SVR12 of 92% to 100%) and excellent safety, and the current standard of care.
Conclusion: With various DAA regimens now being approved for children above three years of age, the treatment of active HCV infection (HCV-RNA positive) in children has become simple. Besides the effectiveness of DAA therapy, public awareness about HCV transmission, better screening, and making the DAAs available at a subsidized price in the public sectors are necessary to eliminate HCV infection in India.
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Viral Immunol
January 2025
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Muang, Thailand.
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a major health risk worldwide, with patients susceptible to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study focuses on the development of effective therapeutic strategies for HCV infection through the investigation of immunogenic properties of a DNA construct based on the NS3/4A gene of HCV genotype (g)3a. Gene expression of the mutagenized (mut) NS3/4A target genes was assessed through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed Care
February 2025
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases & Global Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Background: Restrictive Medicaid policies regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment may exacerbate rural health care disparities for people who use drugs (PWUD). We assessed associations between Medicaid restrictions and HCV treatment among rural PWUD.
Methods: We compiled state-specific Medicaid treatment policies across 8 US rural sites in 10 states and merged these with participant survey data.
Cells
December 2024
Infectious Diseases Department, Clinica Universitaria Colombia, Clínica Colsanitas S.A., Bogotá 111321, Colombia.
Inflammation can positively and negatively affect tumorigenesis based on the duration, scope, and sequence of related events through the regulation of signaling pathways. A transcriptomic analysis of five pulmonary arterial hypertension, twelve Crohn's disease, and twelve ulcerative colitis high throughput sequencing datasets using R language specialized libraries and gene enrichment analyses identified a regulatory network in each inflammatory disease. IRF9 and LINC01089 in pulmonary arterial hypertension are related to the regulation of signaling pathways like MAPK, NOTCH, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis c infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealthcare (Basel)
December 2024
Center for Global Emergency Care, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA.
: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have significantly reduced Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission and improved health outcomes since their FDA approval in 2011. Despite these advances, over 70 million people remain untreated globally, with a disproportionately high burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). : Through a structured search of open access informational sources and an informal peer-reviewed literature review, HCV treatment barriers were identified, compiled, and analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Pulmonology, Israeli-Georgian Multiprofile Medical Center "Healthycore", Tbilisi, GEO.
This study describes a 64-year-old female with a history of hepatitis C and cryoglobulinemia, who presented with respiratory symptoms, including dry cough, shortness of breath, and fever, alongside joint pain and fatigue. Initial workup revealed interstitial pneumonia, supported by chest imaging, and the patient was treated for pneumonia with standard antibiotic therapy. Despite no renal involvement, a hallmark of cryoglobulinemia, further testing confirmed elevated serum cryoglobulin levels.
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