Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIMS: METHODS: We enrolled 35 consecutive patients with AHC identified by seroconversion to anti-HCV and 31 consecutive patients who had been anti-HCV positive for at least six months at the time of reactivation. Titres of HCV IgM were calculated as Index values by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: During the early phase of the illness we observed a wide variation in the HCV IgM Index values in all patients in the AHC group and consistent values in all cases in the r-CHC group. The HCV viral load determined soon after the onset of symptoms was of no use in identifying AHC.Twenty-three patients in the AHC group were observed as outpatients for 6-30 months; of these, 10 became plasma HCV- RNA negative within the third month of observation, but three showed a subsequent reactivation of HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the detection of high and variable titres of HCV IgM in the early phase of the illness may identify acute hepatitis C and allow early antiviral treatment.
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Authors | Evangelista Sagnelli, Nicola Coppola, Cecilia Marrocco, Giancarlo Coviello, Martina Battaglia, Vincenzo Messina, Giovanni Rossi, Caterina Sagnelli, Carlo Scolastico, Pietro Filippini |
Journal | Journal of hepatology
(J Hepatol)
Vol. 42
Issue 5
Pg. 646-51
(May 2005)
ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 15826712
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Hepatitis C Antibodies
- Immunoglobulin M
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Adult
- Early Diagnosis
- Female
- Hepatitis C
(diagnosis, immunology, virology)
- Hepatitis C Antibodies
(blood)
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin M
(blood)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Recurrence
- Viral Load
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