Hepatitis C virus care cascade for children in Moscow Region

Background. Children and adolescents with infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have not been given sufficient attention due to mild forms of HCV and delays in approval of antiviral treatment regimens. Omissions in the studies of pediatric cohorts and shortcomings of management policies aimed at children should be eliminated by improving screening coverage and access to treatment. The aim of the study was to present the results of the cascade sequence of diagnostic testing, care and treatment of children with HCV in the Moscow Region (MR). Materials and methods. The study included all HCV seropositive children of MR (n = 175), who underwent screening tests, and it did not include patients living with HIV/HCV coinfection. Children were observed from 2017 to 2022. The HCV RNA was detected in 164 children and HCV genotypes were identified in 99 children. The stage of liver fibrosis was assessed in 73 children by transient elastography and by FIB-4 index calculation. Results. In MR, 93.7% of seropositive children were tested for HCV RNA; 71.2% of adolescents over 12 years of age received treatment. The prevalence of HCV seropositivity was estimated at 0.113/1,000 children population; the prevalence of chronic HCV infection was at least 0.059/1,000. The dominant HCV subtypes were GT 1b (43.4% [the 95% confidence interval, 33.553.8%]), GT 3a (23.2% [15.332.8%]) and GT 3a/3b (20.2% [12.829.5%]). The incidence of viremic HCV infection per 100,000 children was 3.3 among children under 3 years of age; 7.0 among children aged 36 years; 7.7 among children aged 711 years, 4.4 among adolescents older than 12 years. Natural HCV clearance was reported at the frequency of 19.5% [13.826.4%]. Extrahepatic manifestations were of rare occasion 2.9% [0.96.5%]. Vertical transmission was the primary route of HCV transmission (78.3% [71.484.2%]); infection is assumed to occur during medical invasive procedures 7.4% [4.012.4%], drug using 0.6% [0.013.10%], in the family household 0.6% [0.013.10%]. New cases of HCV infection were more frequently detected during routine examination of children prior to hospitalization or children born to mothers with HCV. Viremic HCV was confirmed in 90.2% [84.694.3%], including HCV infection in 53.4% [45.061.6%], chronic liver disease in 35.8% [28.144.1%] having low activity and occasional consequences (the fibrosis METAVIR score of F1 and F1-2 17.8% [9.828.5%]). No significant clinical and epidemiological differences between the natural course of chronic HCV infection and the liver disease caused by HCV have been found. The burden of pediatric HCV in MR is aggravated by a significant proportion of socially vulnerable patients and patients with comorbid conditions. Conclusion. One of the solutions for detection of new pediatric cases of HCV infection in MR can be offered by improvement of collaboration and continuity of care among healthcare organizations and early treatment of women of childbearing age. Further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of routine testing of all socially vulnerable pediatric groups. Early application of pan-genotypic antiviral treatment regimens can contribute significantly to control of the HCV infection incidence in children

Vitamin D Status Among Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Multicenter Prospective, Non-randomized, Comparative Study

BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by destructive and inflammatory damage to the joints. The aim in this study was to compare vitamin D levels between children and adolescents, 1–18 years of age, with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and a health control group of peers. We considered effects of endogenous, exogenous, and genetic factors on measured differences in vitamin D levels among children with JIA.MethodsOur findings are based on a study sample of 150 patients with various variants of JIA and 277 healthy children. The blood level of vitamin D was assessed by calcidiol level. The following factors were included in our analysis: age and sex; level of insolation in three regions of country (center, south, north); assessment of dietary intake of vitamin D; effect of prophylactic doses of cholecalciferol; a relationship between the TaqI, FokI, and BsmI polymorphisms of the VDR gene and serum 25(OH)D concentration.ResultsWe identified a high frequency of low vitamin D among children with JIA, prevalence of 66%, with the medial level of vitamin D being within the range of “insufficient” vitamin D. We also show that the dietary intake of vitamin D by children with JIA is well below expected norms, and that prophylactic doses of vitamin D supplementation (cholecalciferol) at a dose of 500–1,000 IU/day and 1,500–2,000 IU/day do not meet the vitamin D needs of children with JIA. Of importance, we show that vitamin D levels among children with JIA are not affected by clinical therapies to manage the disease nor by the present of VDR genetic variants.ConclusionProphylactic administration of cholecalciferol and season of year play a determining role in the development of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency

Состояние здоровья близнецов с генотипом F508del/R334W при муковисцидозе и возможности таргетной терапии

The CFTR gene contains 27 exons and is located at position 31.1 of the long arm of chromosome 7 (7q31.1). More than 2000 variants of the CFTR gene have been described so far. The R334W variant is associated with the mild disease course. Objective. To perform comprehensive assessment of the health status, functional CFTR activity, and efficacy of CFTR modulators in twins with the F508del/R334W genotype. Materials and methods. Data from medical records, intestinal current measurement (ICM), intestinal organoid culture. Results. We examined two twins with moderate cystic fibrosis who had similar clinical manifestations, including rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and respiratory infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Both patients also had polyvalent allergy. One child presented with a decrease of pancreatic elastase 1 in stool from 500 µg/g to 125 500 µg/g, which required administration of pancreatin and dosage increase later. Both children had reduced chloride channel function as demonstrated by ICM. The administration of a corrector (VX-809) and a potentiator (VX-770) effectively restored the channel function; their simultaneous use ensured an additive effect. The quantitative results obtained in both cultures of intestinal organoids were very similar