"A study presented today that evaluated an investigational dosage of oncedaily ledipasvir  mgsofosbuvir  mg LDVSOF in children aged six to  years infected with the Hepatitis C virus HCV found that  of children n had undetectable levels of HCVRNA  weeks after treatment. The study presented at The International Liver Congress  in Amsterdam The Netherlands also showed that the fixeddose combination of LDVSOF was welltolerated and no patients experienced a serious adverse event considered related to the study drug.  Around  million people globally have chronic HCV infection including approximately  million people in the EU. The prevalence of HCV infection in children varies from .. in the United States and Europe and up to .. in some developing countries. While directacting antivirals have been used to treat and cure adult patients with HCV until now children have been mainly treated for  to  weeks with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin RBV an older treatment which causes severe side effects.  Directacting antivirals have transformed the treatment of adults with chronic HCV however studies of these new therapies in children are required said Dr Karen Murray University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Childrens Seattle United States and lead author of the study. These data establish the use of the oral directacting antivirals as an important treatment option in HCVinfected children aged six to  years old. This ongoing openlabel study enrolled  children aged between six and  years with chronic HCV mostly genotype  n. Children with HCV genotype  infection received  weeks of treatment n or  weeks of treatment if they had cirrhosis and failed prior treatment with pegylated interferon plus RBV n genotype  patients received LDVSOF plus RBV for  weeks n genotype  patients received LDVSOF for  weeks n. Most children were male  white  treatment nave  and vertically infected . Of the study population  achieved a sustained virologic response  weeks after treatment SVR one treatmentnave genotype  patient with cirrhosis relapsed. No children discontinued the study due to side effects or had a severe or lifethreatening adverse event related to the study drug. The most common side effects reported in  or more of patients were headache fever abdominal pain diarrhoea vomiting cough fatigue sore throat and nausea.  This study is a breakthrough for the management of children aged six to  years old with Hepatitis C demonstrating that the new DAA regimen is highly efficacious and more importantly safe in this group of HCVinfected children said Prof Frank Tacke University Hospital Aachen Germany and EASL Governing Board Member.  About The International Liver Congress  This annual congress is the biggest event in the EASL calendar attracting scientific and medical experts from around the world to learn about the latest in liver research. Attending specialists present share debate and conclude on the latest science and research in hepatology working to enhance the treatment and management of liver disease in clinical practice. This year the congress is expected to attract approximately  delegates from all corners of the globe. The International Liver Congress  will take place from April    at the RAI Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands. About The European Association for the Study of the Liver EASL http  Since its foundation in  this notforprofit organisation has grown to over  members from all over the world including many of the leading hepatologists in Europe and beyond. EASL is the leading liver association in Europe having evolved into a major European Association with international influence with an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy. Contact  For more information please contact the ILC Press Office at  Email ILCpressofficeruderfinn.co.uk mailtoILCpressofficeruderfinn.co.uk  Telephone     Onsite location reference  Session title Parallel session Advances in the treatment of HCV  Time date and location of session    Friday  April Hall   Presenter Karen Murray United States of America  Abstract Ledipasvirsofosbuvir  ribavirin for  or  weeks is safe and effective in children  years old with chronic hepatitis C infection PS     Author disclosures  Research funding from Gilead and NIH Merck  stock ownership. References   EASL Recommendation on Treatment of Hepatitis C . Available from http Last accessed April .   World Health Organization. Global Alert and Response  Hepatitis C. Available from http Last accessed April .   Pawlowska M Malgorzata et al. Whats new in hepatitis C virus infections in children WJG. .   Afdhal N et al. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for untreated HCV genotype  infection. N Engl J Med.  May .   Afdhal N et al. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for previously treated HCV genotype  infection. N Engl J Med.  Apr .   Kowdley KV et al. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for  or  weeks for chronic HCV without cirrhosis. N Engl J Med.  May .   Sulkowski MS et al. Daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir for previously treated or untreated chronic HCV infection. N Engl J Med.  Jan .   Jara P Hierro L. Treatment of Hepatitis C in children. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. ."