Hepatitis C virus in a group of hematological and oncohematological patients

Background: Little information is available in Chile about hepatitis C viru s (HCV) in hematological and oncohematological patients. Aim: To evaluate t he prevalence of hepatitis C virus markers in a group of hematological and oncohematological pediatric patients seen at Valdivia Regional Hospital. Pa tients and methods: Antibodies against virus C, determined by ELISA and vir al RNA, determined using RT-polymerase chain reaction, were measured in 54 blood samples from children with hematological disease (34 with Acute Lymph oblastic Leukemia, 4 with Hodgkin Diseases, 4 with Haemolytic Anemia, 5 wit h Sarcomas, 2 with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 2 with Thrombocytopenic Purpura, 1 with an Ependimona, one with a Wilms Tumor and 1 with a Von Willebrand Dis ease). Results: All samples were negative for antibodies against hepatitis C virus. Viral RNA was found in four children, all with a diagnosis of acut e lymphoblastic leukemia and who received chemotherapy and multiple transfu sion. Conclusions: The prevalence of Viral RNA for hepatitis C virus in onc ohematological patients in our study is high and associated with the use of chemotherapy and multiple transfusion (Rev Med Chile 2001; 129: 18-22).