@article{3156818,
    title = "Clinical Characteristics, Spontaneous Clearance and Treatment Outcome of
Acute Hepatitis C: A Single Tertiary Center Experience",
    author = "Deutsch, Melanie and Papadopoulos, Nikolaos and Hadziyannis, Emilia S. and and Koskinas, John",
    journal = "Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology",
    year = "2013",
    volume = "19",
    number = "2",
    pages = "81-85",
    publisher = "Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd",
    issn = "1319-3767",
    doi = "10.4103/1319-3767.108479",
    keywords = "Acute hepatitis; chronic hepatitis; hepatitis C virus",
    abstract = "Background and Aims: Acute hepatitis C is rarely diagnosed due to its
predominantly asymptomatic course. However, early treatment results in
viral eradication in a high number of patients thus, preventing
chronicity. The aim of our study was to describe our experience with
patients with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who presented and
followed-up in our liver unit, pointing on treatment strategy, and
outcome. Patients and Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study of 30
patients with acute HCV infection (26 males and 4 females) with a mean
age of 32 years. Results: The source of infection was mainly injection
drug use in 17/30 (56.7) and medical procedures 6/30 (20%). Twenty
patients (66.6%) were symptomatic. HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) was
detectable at presentation in 26 (86.7%) patients. The genotype
distribution was: 13/26(50%) genotype 1, 3/26 (11.5%) genotype 2, 8/26
(30.8%) genotype 3 and 2/26 (7.7%) genotype 4. Totally, 9 patients
(30%) experienced spontaneous viral eradication. No significant
differences could be documented between patients who spontaneously
cleared the virus and those who had viral persistence. Thirteen patients
(44%) were treated with peginterferon-based regimen. All patients
(100%) achieved non-detectable HCV-RNA and had normal serum alanine
aminotransferase levels at the end of the treatment. Eleven patients
achieved sustained virologic response (SVR), one relapsed and one was
lost to follow-up. The overall SVR rate was 84.6%. None of the patients
required dose reduction or stopped the treatment due to side effects.
Conclusion: In conclusion, early initiation of anti-viral treatment in
patients with acute hepatitis C results in high-SVR rates (independently
of genotype) and is well-tolerated."
}