Peripheral lymphocytes analyses in children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐specific immune response is believed to play a crucial role in viral clearance. There is, nevertheless, no reliable parameter to monitor this immune response or predict chronic HCV infection development. Method An observational case‐control study was performed to identify such parameters, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 57 children with chronic HCV were systemically phenotyped, and the serum level of Interferon gamma and interleukin (IL) ‐17 was measured. The data were compared with 37 age‐matched healthy volunteers (controls). Results Children with chronic HCV infection had a lower frequency of natural killer cells (NK) cells, CD56Dim NK cells and expansion of CD56Bright NK cells compared with controls (P = 0.001, P