[Severe acute hepatitis C with spontaneous cure]

Margarida Marques1, Hélder Cardoso, Ana Maria Horta Vale

  • 1Serviços de Gastrenterologia e de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital São João/Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Acta Medica Portuguesa
|October 21, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, often asymptomatic, can present as acute hepatitis. A case highlights potential nosocomial transmission and successful clinical management, with negative HCV viremia achieved.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes 20% of acute hepatitis cases, frequently remaining asymptomatic.
  • The transmission route for 40% of HCV infections is unknown, with nosocomial transmission increasingly recognized.

Observation:

  • A 54-year-old female presented with symptomatic acute Hepatitis C hepatitis and hepatic failure.
  • The patient reported no risky behaviors but had a prior hospital admission 5 weeks earlier.

Findings:

  • The patient's acute Hepatitis C infection was successfully managed with clinical surveillance.
  • HCV viremia became negative by the 10th week of observation.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering nosocomial transmission in acute Hepatitis C cases.
  • Early recognition and management can lead to favorable outcomes in symptomatic acute HCV infection.

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