The Second Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study

The Second Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study (MHCS-II) will evaluate and prospectively follow approximately 4500 persons with hemophilia who were exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The vast majority will have been infected with HCV, and approximately 1/3 will have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Primary objectives are to quantify the rates of liver decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and to evaluate candidate clinical, genetic, virologic, serologic and immunologic markers that are likely to be on the causal pathway for these conditions. Candidate clinical and laboratory markers will be examined longitudinally to define changes over time and their relationships to one another. Collaborative studies will focus on genome scanning and evaluation of candidate genetic loci for susceptibility or resistance to HCV and HIV infections or to the diseases that result from these infections. Additional studies will identify response and complication rates of various anti-HCV and anti-HIV regimens in the setting of comprehensive clinical care of persons with hemophilia.