[Hepatitis C antibodies in children and adolescents with congenital blood coagulation disorders].

Antibodies to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) were determined in 24 children and adolescents with congenital disorders of haemostasis. 13 out of 24 patients (54%) were positive for anti-HCV. Comparison of the prevalence of positive anti-HCV and the quantity of non-virus inactivated factor VIII concentrates administered before 1985 showed positive anti-HCV in 100% of patients receiving more than 300 U factor VIII/kg b.w./month, in 88% of patients receiving 100 to 300 U factor VIII/kg b.w./month, and in 60% of patients receiving less than 100 U/kg b.w./month. 13 out of all 16 patients (81%) treated with non-virus-inactivated concentrates before 1985 were positive for anti-HCV. In contrast, all patients treated with virus inactivated concentrates were negative for anti-HCV. Elevated aminotransferases were frequently found in 8 out of 13 patients (62%) positive for anti-HCV, but only in 3 out of 11 patients (27%) negative for anti-HCV. The risk of developing chronic hepatitis was about 2.5-fold higher in patients positive for hepatitis C-antibodies than in patients negative for hepatitis C-antibodies.