Ruga , Sartor M, Giaquinto C, D'Elia R, Zacchello F, Zancan L; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 108 (abstract no. Mo.B.1308).
Dipartimento di Pediatria, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy. Fax: + 39.49.8753865. E-mail: carlog@child.pedi.unipd.it.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, the characteristics and the prognostic value of chronic hepatitis in children with vertically acquired HIV infection. Methods: We prospectively studied 47 HIV-infected children, 23 of them from birth. Children were evaluated clinically, immunologically and virologically at least every 3 months Aminotransferasis (AST, ALT) were routinely measured. Chronic HIV hepatitis was defined as an increase of AST and ALT more than twice normal levels, persisting for at least 6 months without any other common infective (HBV, HCV, CMV, EBV, Adenovirus) and drugs related causes of liver dysfunction. Results: Twenty-three children were followed up from birth for a mean of 5,2 years (range: 8m-9y). Fifteen (65%) of them developed hepatitis by 5 years (range: 2m-5y). All but one child had a persistent increase of AST and ALT. Eleven (48%) developed HIV hepatitis; the mean level of AST was persistently higher than ALT, GGT and triglycerides were also elevated. The four (17%) remaining children were HCV positive and had, as expected, an higher level of ALT than AST, whereas the levels of GGT and triglycerides were normal. In all children studied (n=47) we evaluated the relative risks of progression to AIDS and to death at 1 year after developing HIV hepatitis: (table: see text) Conclusions: HIV-infected children frequently develop HIV hepatitis with AST/ALT ratio greater than 1 and elevated levels of GGT and triglycerides. High levels of ALT and AST (greater than 5 times) are significantly correlated with the progression to AIDS and the risk of death.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Alanine Transaminase
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
- Child
- Disease Progression
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hepacivirus
- Hepatitis, Chronic
- Humans
- Liver Diseases
Other ID:
UI: 102217271
From Meeting Abstracts