Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C
Background. It has been suggested that chronic hepatitis B infection leads to growth impairment, but data are inconsistent and underlying factors are not defined. Methods. Children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) were retrospectively evaluated for growth, weight, antiviral...
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Virology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/670316 |
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| author | P. Gerner Andre Hörning S. Kathemann K. Willuweit S. Wirth |
| author_facet | P. Gerner Andre Hörning S. Kathemann K. Willuweit S. Wirth |
| author_sort | P. Gerner |
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| description | Background. It has been suggested that chronic hepatitis B infection leads to growth impairment, but data are inconsistent and underlying factors are not defined. Methods. Children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) were retrospectively evaluated for growth, weight, antiviral treatment, biochemical signs of liver inflammation, route of infection, and HBV DNA, respectively. Results. In all, 135 children (mean age 6.1 years, 81 male, 54 female) with HBV (n=78) or HCV (n=57) were studied. Route of infection was vertical in 50%, parenteral in 11%, and unknown in 39%. ALT levels were above 1.5 times above normal in 30% while 70% had normal/near normal transaminases. 80% were Caucasian, 14% Asian, 1% black, and 4% unknown. Mean baseline height measured in SDS was significantly lower in the study population than in noninfected children (boys −1.2, girls −0.4, P<0.01). 28 children were below 2 standard deviations of the norm while 5 were above 2 standard deviations. SDS measures in relation to individual factors were as follows: elevated ALT: boys −1.4, females −0.5 (P<0.01), ALT normal/near normal: boys +0.4, females +0.6; parenteral transmission: boys −3.3, girls −0.9 (P<0.01), vertical transmission: boys −0.2, females −0.2. Antiviral treatment itself or HBV-DNA load did not reach statistically significant differences. Conclusions. Chronic HBV or HCV may lead to compromised growth which is mostly influenced by liver inflammation. Our data may argue for early antiviral treatment in children with significant ALT elevation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8060c624ba174ead9b1dbfb93448ea4a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1687-8639 1687-8647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Advances in Virology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8060c624ba174ead9b1dbfb93448ea4a2025-08-20T02:08:38ZengWileyAdvances in Virology1687-86391687-86472012-01-01201210.1155/2012/670316670316Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or CP. Gerner0Andre Hörning1S. Kathemann2K. Willuweit3S. Wirth4Children’s Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Klinic 2, 45122 Essen, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Klinic 2, 45122 Essen, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Klinic 2, 45122 Essen, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Klinic 2, 45122 Essen, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, HELIOS Klinikum, 42283 Wuppertal, GermanyBackground. It has been suggested that chronic hepatitis B infection leads to growth impairment, but data are inconsistent and underlying factors are not defined. Methods. Children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) were retrospectively evaluated for growth, weight, antiviral treatment, biochemical signs of liver inflammation, route of infection, and HBV DNA, respectively. Results. In all, 135 children (mean age 6.1 years, 81 male, 54 female) with HBV (n=78) or HCV (n=57) were studied. Route of infection was vertical in 50%, parenteral in 11%, and unknown in 39%. ALT levels were above 1.5 times above normal in 30% while 70% had normal/near normal transaminases. 80% were Caucasian, 14% Asian, 1% black, and 4% unknown. Mean baseline height measured in SDS was significantly lower in the study population than in noninfected children (boys −1.2, girls −0.4, P<0.01). 28 children were below 2 standard deviations of the norm while 5 were above 2 standard deviations. SDS measures in relation to individual factors were as follows: elevated ALT: boys −1.4, females −0.5 (P<0.01), ALT normal/near normal: boys +0.4, females +0.6; parenteral transmission: boys −3.3, girls −0.9 (P<0.01), vertical transmission: boys −0.2, females −0.2. Antiviral treatment itself or HBV-DNA load did not reach statistically significant differences. Conclusions. Chronic HBV or HCV may lead to compromised growth which is mostly influenced by liver inflammation. Our data may argue for early antiviral treatment in children with significant ALT elevation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/670316 |
| spellingShingle | P. Gerner Andre Hörning S. Kathemann K. Willuweit S. Wirth Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C Advances in Virology |
| title | Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C |
| title_full | Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C |
| title_fullStr | Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C |
| title_short | Growth Abnormalities in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B or C |
| title_sort | growth abnormalities in children with chronic hepatitis b or c |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/670316 |
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