Chronic Hepatitis C in Children in the Russian Federation: A Multicenter Study

We present the results of a multicenter epidemiological study of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in the children population of Russia, which reflect the data of a study of 306 children with CHC from three regions (Central, North-Western and Siberian Federal Districts) and which was conducted in November 2014 to July 2017. The article shows the evolution of the primary disease in children (aged up to 17 years old) of CHC in Russia for the period of 2006-2016 (first diagnosis per 100,000 population of corresponding age). We showed the ways of infection of children with hepatitis C virus (HCV), among which the most common is perinatal. We described the frequency of occurrence of different HCV genotypes in children in Russia. Results of expression of liver fibrosis by elastography method are presented; the correlation between duration of infection and severity of liver fibrosis in children was shown. Besides, the results of a morphological study of liver biopsy specimens with CHC in children, as well as the effectiveness of various schemes of interferon therapy for CHC in children were presented.