Hepatitis C Infection in Patients With Hemophilia: Results of a National Survey

Prevalence of hepatitis C Virus infection among hemophiliacs in Central Brazil

“…Nevertheless, with reference to other hemophiliacs populations, this rate was similar to that obtained in Minas Gerais, Brazil (62%) and Canada (63%) (Blanchette et al 1994, Rocha et al 1994), but lower than prevalences observed in the United Kingdom (76%), the USA (89.3%) and New Zeland (89.6%) (Troisi et al 1993, Jackson et al 1994, Ahmed et al 1996.…”

“…The majority of patients who received clotting factors before the introduction of virus-inactivation methods and screening tests for anti-HCV in blood banks have been infected with HCV. High prevalence rates (39-98%) of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) have been found in hemophiliac populations (Arteaga-Vizcaíno et al 1993, Troisi et al 1993, Blanchette et al 1994, Jackson et al 1994, Ahmed et al 1996. In Brazil, and specially in the State of Goiás, coagulation factor replacement therapy in hemophiliacs was basically done with locally produced cryoprecipitate and fresh-frozen plasma.…”

Natural clearance of hepatitis C virus in hemophilia patients

“…These alleles could contribute to successful clearance of HCV infection. 3 Latvijos universiteto vaikų ligoninė, 4 …”

“…According to literature data, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease in adults and children with hemophilia (3). Before the introduction of HCV screening of human blood products, most of children with hemophilia were infected with HCV.…”

Gene Transfer as an Approach to Treating Hemophilia

“…An additional uncertainty regarding the liver-directed approach is the effect of underlying hepatitis on vector transduction and vice versa (vide supra). Among adults with severe hemophilia, Ͼ90% have been exposed to hepatitis B and Ͼ80% to hepatitis C. [12][13][14][15][16] The effect of ongoing inflammation and altered cytokine profiles within the target tissue may increase the likelihood of inhibitor formation in the setting of gene transfer. Finally, if sites of injection into skeletal muscle are judiciously selected, one could conceivably reverse the procedure by resecting the injected sites if some unanticipated adverse event were to occur; on the other hand, introduction of vector into the liver is an irreversible event.…”