Chronic hepatitis in children after liver transplantation: role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infections

Davison, Suzanne M.; Skidmore, Susan J.; Collingham, Kathryn E.; Irving, William L.; Hubscher, Stefan G.; Kelly, Deirdre A.

« Previous Next »Journal of Hepatology
Volume 28, Issue 5 , Pages 764-770, May 1998

Chronic hepatitis in children after liver transplantation: role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infections

Suzanne M. Davison
- Correspondence: Suzanne M. Davison, Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Blackley, Manchester M97AA, UK. Tel: 44 161 220 5566. Fax: 44 161 220 5072.
- The Liver Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust, UK
Susan J. Skidmore
- Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Solihull NHS Trust, UK
Kathryn E. Collingham
- Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Solihull NHS Trust, UK
William L. Irving
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
Stefan G. Hubscher
- Department of Pathology, University of Birmingham, UK
Deirdre A. Kelly
- The Liver Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust, UK

Received 10 September 1997; received in revised form 9 December 1997; accepted 9 December 1997.

Abstract

Background/Aims: Chronic graft hepatitis occurs in 20–30% adults after liver transplantation but the prevalence and causes in children are not known. In adults, hepatitis C virus infection is prevalent prior to transplantation and recurrent infection is a frequent cause of graft dysfunction. The significance of the recently described hepatitis G virus infection remains unproven. The aim of this study was to examine the role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infection in chronic graft hepatitis after paediatric liver transplantation.

Methods: The prevalence of graft hepatitis and the role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infections in 80 children after liver transplantation have been studied, with a median follow up of 4.4 years (range 0.4 to 10.7), and the persistence of hepatitis G infection in the presence of immunosuppression has been determined.

Results: Chronic graft hepatitis was diagnosed in (24%) children and was most freuqently seen in children transplanted for cryptogenic cirrhosis (71%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis in those transplanted before or after donor anti-HCV screening. Hepatitis C infection occurred in three children transplanted prior to donor screening but in only one was associated with chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis G infection was found in (28%) transplant recipients but was not associated with graft hepatitis. In children hepatitis G infection persisted for a median of 5.2 years after transplantation.

Conclusion: Chronic hepatitis occurred in 24% of children after liver transplantation, a similar prevalence to that in adults. Cryptogenic liver disease predisposed to graft hepatitis, but neither hepatitis C nor hepatitis G infection was associated. Hepatitis G virus caused a frequent and usually persistent infection after transplantation.

Keywords: Cryptogenic cirrhosis, Hepatitis C virus, Hepatitis G virus, Pediatric liver transplantation.

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