There is growing recognition of global public health challenges presented by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with an estimated 500,000 deaths from HCV liver disease each year. Understanding of HCV infection in adults has grown substantially in recent years, alongside extraordinary advances in the treatment of HCV with direct acting antivirals (DAAs). However, there remain striking knowledge gaps for paediatric HCV, despite the nearly seven million children living with chronic HCV worldwide. Furthermore, children have yet to benefit from DAAs, as these drugs are not yet licensed for paediatric use
PENTAHep is a collaboration between partners in Eastern Europe carrying out epidemiological studies of HCV mono-infection. This includes a multi-centre study of 300 children and adolescents with chronic HCV in Russia.
A multisite prospective cohort study of chronic HCV in childhood in Ukraine is an ongoing PENTAHep initiative, in partnership with PPAI, the Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, and a network of clinical sites.
PENTAHep’s goal is to address specific knowledge gaps in order to establish best practices for the management, care and treatment of children and adolescents living with HCV.
Currently, PENTAHep is undertaking a web-based survey on children with chronic hepatitis C in follow-up across the PENTAHep consortium. This collaboration will allow us to identify future research priorities in the field of paediatric HCV, plan clinical trials on emerging treatments and apply for specific grants in this field.
PENTAHep is funded by Penta.