Increased risk of chronic hepatitis in children with cancer

Vaccination News Home Page

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/101520874/START

Wiley InterScience Home Page Personal Home Page Journal Finder Book Finder Search Wiley Interscience Reference Works Help Contact Us Logout
Article Abstract All Journals Previous Article Next Article acronym finder
About this Journal  

Online ISSN: 1096-911X    Print ISSN: 0098-1532
Medical and Pediatric Oncology
Volume 40, Issue 2, 2003. Pages: 104-110

Published Online: 29 Nov 2002
 

Copyright © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Add to your Hot Article list
Enhanced Abstract Available
Article's Full Text in PDF
No HTML Full Text Available


 

Increased risk of chronic hepatitis in children with cancer
Betül Sevinir, MD 1 *, Adalet Meral, MD 2, Ünsal Günay, MD 3, Tanju Özkan, MD 4, Sema Özuysal, MD 5, Melda Sinirtas, MD 6
1Department of Pediatric Oncology, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
2Department of Pediatric Hematology, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
3Department of Pediatric Hematology, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
4Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
5Department of Pathology, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
6Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
 
email: Betül Sevinir (adaletm@uludag.edu.tr)

*Correspondence to Betül Sevinir, Uluda University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Görükle, Bursa, 16059, Turkey.

Betül Sevinir is Pediatric Oncologist, Adalet Meral, Pediatric Hematologist, Ünsal Günay, Professor of Pediatric Hematology, Tanju Özkan, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Sema Özuysal, Pathologist, and Melda Sinirta Microbiologist.

 

Keywords
hepatitis B • hepatitis C • chronic hepatitis • childhood cancer

 

Abstract

Background
There is a risk of viral hepatitis for children with cancer. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in countries with high prevalence cause major problems in the management of cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the incidence and chronicity of HBV and HCV infections in children with malignant diseases receiving chemotherapy.

Procedure
One hundred ninety-eight children with cancer (mean age = 7.5 ± 2.5 years) and 100 healthy children as a control group were screened for HBV and HCV. Liver function tests, the number of transfusions, HBV and HCV serology were regularly monitored. In seropositive children, HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA were measured. Chronic hepatitis was defined as having an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level three times of upper normal limit, positive HBV and HCV antigenemia for longer than 6 months. Liver biopsies were performed in all children with chronic hepatitis. The relationship between the chronic hepatitis and study parameters was statistically analyzed.

Results
HBsAg positivity, anti-HCV, and mixed (HBV and HCV) infection were found in 11.6, 5.5, 2% of children, respectively. Most HBV infected children developed chronic hepatitis (48%) while 26 and 21.7% became carriers and immune, respectively. One died of acute fulminant HBV hepatitis. Of HCV infected children, 63.6% also had positive HCV-RNA. Four children with mixed infection (100%) all progressed to chronic hepatitis. In this setting, chronic hepatitis was observed in 22 of 38 infected children (57.8%). The majority had leukemia and lymphoma. Children with HBsAg antigenemia developed chronic hepatitis in shorter time than HCV positive children (median 13 months vs. 51 months, P < 0.001).

Conclusion
We observed an increased incidence of chronic hepatitis and even mortality due to HBV infection. This suggests that HBV and HCV infections are serious causes of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:104-110. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Received: 24 February 2000; Accepted: 11 December 2001

 

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)


10.1002/mpo.10090  About DOI


 

References are available in the Enhanced Abstract


Additional Information

  • Find other articles like this in Wiley InterScience.
  • Find articles in Wiley InterScience written by any of the authors.
  • Find other links for this article.


 


 

[Wiley InterScience Home Page] [Personal Home Page] [Journal Finder] [Book Finder] [Search Wiley InterScience] [Reference Works] [Help] [Contact Us][Logout]

Wiley InterScience is a member of CrossRef

CrossRef
 

Copyright © 1999-2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

 

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.