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[Clinical manifestations and effect of early therapy with interferon-alpha on the course of acute hepatitis C].

UNLABELLED
The aim of the study was to estimate the course of acute hepatitis C and efficacy of 24 weeks monotherapy with interferon alpha 2b (IFN).


METHODS
Twenty one patients with acute hepatitis C (age between 26 and 79; 17 females, 4 males) treated in the University Hospital between March 2000 and December 2004 were included into this study. Acute phase of hepatitis C was diagnosed on the basis of HCV-RNA presence by PCR, seroconversion to anti-HCV, clinical symptoms of acute hepatitis and clinical view with epidemiological anamnesis. Biochemical, serological and virusological parameters as well as complete blood count were examined during observation. The efficacy of antiviral treatment with IFN (5 MU daily for 30 days, then 3 MU tiw for 24 week) was studied in 8 patients. Loss of HCV viremia after 24 weeks of treatment and sustained response after the next 24 weeks of follow-up were examined.


RESULTS
Jaundice, the main clinical symptom, was observed in 17 (81%) patients, with mean bilirubin level of 147.7 micromol/l. Dyspeptic symptoms were noticed in 71% patients, arthralgia 24%, fatigue in 19% patients. The maximal ALT activity was 1744 U/l, AST 1235 U/l and GGT 372 U/l. The course subsequent to the acute phase was analyzed in 18 patients. Spontaneous loss of viremia was observed in 28% patients. Among the 8 patients included to the therapy early response was observed in 88% and sustained viral response in 75% of them.


CONCLUSIONS
Early initiation of interferon alpha therapy in patients with acute hepatitis C significantly reduced the rate of chronicity and was well tolerated by patients.