Abstract
Backgound/Aim: Studies associating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with lipid profile and hepatic steatosis in children and adolescents are scarce. This study investigated lipid profile abnormalities and hepatic steatosis among HCV-infected Egyptian children and adolescents who survived leukemia and lymphoma and evaluated impact on response to antiviral therapy. Subjects and methods: Thirty-six leukemia/lymphoma cured children and adolescents (mean age: 12.47 +/- 3.56 years) with chronic HCV infection and 30 healthy controls (mean age: 11.64 +/- 3.96 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Serum lipid profile and abdominal ultrasonography were done for all patients and controls. Guided liver biopsy with histopathological examination was done for 32 (88.9%) patients eligible for antiviral therapy. Results: Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) in patients were significantly lower than in the control group (P <= .01, <= .01, and <= .05, respectively). Among those who underwent liver biopsy (n = 32), macrovesicular hepatic steatosis associated with chronic hepatitis C was documented in 10 children (31.3%). Body mass index was significantly higher (P <= .05) and apo-B was significantly lower in steatotic (P <= .05) than non-steatotic HCV-infected children. Liver span by ultrasound, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and apo-B were independent predictors for hepatic steatosis (P < .001, < .001, and < .05, respectively). A significantly worse response to interferon alpha 2-b plus ribavrin treatment for HCV was reported among children with steatosis (P < .001). Conclusions: The study showed low serum lipids in HCV-infected children with cured leukemia/lymphoma. Hepatic steatosis was found in a significant proportion of patients and was associated with a poor response to antiviral treatment.