Advanced liver disease in Russian children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C

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Russia has one of the highest prevalences of paediatric chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC). Our aim was to provide a detailed characterization of children and adolescents with CHC including treatment outcomes. Thus, an observational study of children with CHC aged <18 years was conducted in three hepatology centres from November 2014 to May 2017. Of 301 children (52% male), 196 (65%) acquired HCV vertically, 70 (23%) had a history of blood transfusion or invasive procedures, 1 injecting drug use and 34 (11%) had no known risk factors. Median age at HCV diagnosis was 3.1 [interquartile range, IQR 1.1, 8.2] and 10.8 [7.4, 14.7] at last follow-up. The most common genotype was 1b (51%), followed by 3 (37%). Over a quarter of patients (84, 28%) had raised liver transaminases. Of 92 with liver biopsy, 38 (41%) had bridging fibrosis (median age 10.4 [7.1, 14.1]). Of 223 evaluated by transient elastography, 67 (30%) had liver stiffness ≥5.0 kPa. For each year, increase in age mean stiffness increased by 0.09 kPa (95% CI 0.05, 0.13, P < 0.001). There was significant correlation between liver stiffness and biopsy results (Tau-b = 0.29, P = 0.042). Of 205 treated with IFN-based regimens, 100 (49%) had SVR24. Most children (191, 93%) experienced adverse reactions, leading to treatment discontinuation in 6 (3%). In conclusion, a third of children acquired HCV via nonvertical routes and a substantial proportion of those with liver biopsy had advanced liver disease. Only half of children achieved SVR24 with IFN-based regimens highlighting the need for more effective and better-tolerated treatments with direct-acting antivirals. Further studies are warranted in Russia on causes and prevention of nonvertical transmission of HCV in children.