Prevalence and Clinical Outcome of Hepatitis C Infection in Children Who Underwent Cardiac Surgery before the Implementation of Blood-Donor Screening

Abstract

Children who had undergone cardiac surgery in Germany before the implementation of blood-donor screening for hepatitis C had a substantial risk of acquiring the infection. However, after about 20 years, the virus had spontaneously cleared in many patients. The clinical course in those still infected seems more benign than would be expected in people infected as adults.