Characteristics of the Course of Chronic Viral Hepatitis in Children

Abstract

Objective — to study the peculiarities of chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) in children, depending on the duration of the disease, strain of the virus and viral load. We have examined 61 children aged 3–18 years with CHB. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination. The clinical course of CHB was evaluated by the presence of clinical and laboratory syndromes throughout the entire period of the disease. Using polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we have identified strain of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and viral load. Liver fibrosis was assessed using the APRI index. CHB in one third of children was characterized by inactive course (immune tolerant phase), half of the patients had low and minimal activity of the inflammatory process in the liver with minimal clinical symptoms. In 55.9 % of children, horizontal transmission of the virus took place. It was found that in patients with high viral load and a wild-type HBV, CHB had significantly more active course. With increasing CHB duration, the viral load decreases. Moderate direct correlation between strain of the virus and viral load and strong correlation with the activity of the process in the liver has been established. In children with CHB, the activity of hepatitis is a predictor of hepatic fibrosis progression.

Keywords

• children
• HBV-infection
• chronic hepatitis
• clinical picture
• duration of the disease
• fibrosis