"Exploring Hepatitis C as a Relapse Risk Factor in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Study From a Resource-Limited Egyptian Setting".

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains prevalent in multiply transfused patients, even in the era of rigorous donor screening. While the hepatic effects of HCV have been well documented, its influence on malignancy outcomes and mortality remains underexplored. This study evaluated the incidence of HCV among pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and its impact on treatment interruption, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival. A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for 166 ALL patients treated between January 2016 and December 2021 at the Pediatric Oncology and Hematological Malignancies Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute. HCV-Serology status of all patients was regularly followed up through December 2023. Among the 166 patients, 65 (39.2%) were HCV-positive. HCV-positive Patients experienced a significantly higher relapse risk -6.7-times greater-than HCV-negative peers (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in OS between the groups (p = 0.812). The high incidence of HCV among pediatric ALL patients may represent a risk factor for relapse. Early detection and appropriate management of HCV could enhance patient prognosis and warrant further attention in clinical protocols.