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Published on: December 15, 2023
[Natural history of acute symptomatic hepatitis C in Korea]
Kyung Ah Kim1, June Sung Lee, Jeon Ho Yang
1Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. kakim@ilsanpaik.ac.kr
Insights
Acute hepatitis C (AHC) in Korea shows a high spontaneous viral clearance rate of 66.7%. Early detection of anti-HCV antibodies may indicate a chronic course, while their absence suggests viral resolution.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Acute hepatitis C (AHC) can lead to chronic infection in up to 85% of cases.
- Recent studies suggest a self-limited course in approximately 50% of symptomatic AHC patients.
- No prior studies have investigated the natural course of AHC specifically within the Korean population.
Purpose:
- To determine the natural course of acute hepatitis C in Korean patients.
- To identify factors influencing the spontaneous resolution of AHC.
Summary:
- Eighteen AHC patients were studied from 2001-2004, with 17 being symptomatic.
- Spontaneous remission occurred in 12 patients (66.7%), defined by sustained HCV RNA loss and normalized ALT.
- Presence of anti-HCV antibodies in initial samples predicted chronicity, while their absence correlated with viral clearance.
Impact:
- AHC demonstrates a significant potential for spontaneous viral resolution.
- Findings highlight the importance of early serological markers in predicting AHC outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate specific factors driving viral clearance in AHC.
Background/Aims:
Acute hepatitis C (AHC) has a high chronicity rate of up to 85%. Recently, several studies have demonstrated AHC has a self-limited course in about 50% especially in symptomatic cases. However, there is no investigation about the natural course of AHC in Korea. We intended to define the natural course of AHC and the influential factors on it.
Methods:
We enrolled the patients with AHC from 2001 to 2004. The diagnosis of AHC was based on seroconversion to anti-HCV antibodies or the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria satisfactory to AHC and on the presence of HCV RNA in first serum sample. The self-limited course of AHC was defined as permanent (>6 months) loss of HCV RNA in serum and normalization of ALT.
Results:
Eighteen patients presented with AHC. Seventeen out of eighteen was symptomatic. Twelve out of eighteen (66.7%, 95% CI 41.7-84.9%) showed spontaneous remissions. Presence of anti-HCV on first serum samples predicted chronic courses. Antibody to HCV was not detected during follow-up periods in nine patients, who all showed spontaneous viral clearance.
Conclusions:
AHC has a high rate of spontaneous viral resolution. Further study is needed to define the influential factors on the viral clearance in AHC.
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