[Clinical and histological findings in HCV-caused hepatitis]

58 cases of acute HCV-hepatitis were studied from the debut of acute illness and were followed up over 1-12 years. A mean three week's delay of anti-HCV IgG (Ortho) positivity was observed after the first manifestation of hepatitis. 70.6% relapsed and a chronic hepatitis developed in 37.9%. Seven patients died in HCV-hepatitis. Clinical, chemical, morphological features of HCV-hepatitis different from other viral hepatitis are demonstrated. Persistence of morphological signs of lobular hepatitis after even several months of subacute and chronic outcome has been found characteristic in HCV-hepatitis. Difficulties in interpretation of liver morphology are discussed. Simultaneous evaluation of clinical picture, laboratory markers and morphology is necessary to select cases for therapeutic trials.