scholarly journals The role of interferon in the treatment of acute hepatitis C

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 322-326
Author(s):  
Jasmina Simonovic-Babic ◽  
Dragan Delic ◽  
Neda Svirtlih
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Alanine Aminotransferase ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Interferon Alfa ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
The Mean

Introduction. Progression from acute to chronic HCV infection occurs in 50% to 84% of cases. Even the latest approach - combination therapy with pegilated interferon alfa 2-a or 2b and ribavirin - eliminates the virus in only 54% to 56% of cases with chronic infection. The aim of this study is to determine whether treatment during the acute phase prevents the development of chronic infection. Material and methods. Between 2001 and 2004, 27 patients with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C were treated at the hepatology Department of Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases. Among them, 19 were treated with recombinant interferon alfa 2-a. Acute hepatitis C was defined by clinical and laboratory test results and by exclusion of other causes of acute liver disease. Results. The mean age of our patients was 32.7 years, whereas the mean incubation time was 61.7 days. The mean serum amino- transferase levels were 1119 U/l and the mean total bilirubin levels were 106 mmol/l. At the end of therapy, 81.8% of patients had undetectable levels of HCV RNA, but 94.7% of patients had normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels. At the end of follow up, 84.6% of patients had normal alanine aminotransferase levels and 83.3% of patients had undetectable levels of HCV RNA. One patient had undetectable antibody to HCV at the end of follow-up. Conclusion. The results reported here demonstrate that in the acute phase of HCV infection, interferon treatment is associated with a high rate of virological and biochemical response. We concluded that early treatment of acute hepatitis C may prevent chronic hepatitis C. .

scholarly journals Viral clearance or persistence after acute hepatitis C infection: Interim results from a prospective study

Medicina ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aušra Guobužaitė ◽  
Shilpa Chokshi ◽  
Ligita Balčiūnienė ◽  
Alina Voinič ◽  
Aušra Stiklerytė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Alanine Aminotransferase ◽  
Viral Clearance ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
G Cell

Objective. Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) has a high rate of chronic evolution; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We investigated natural clinical, virological, and immunological course of acute HCV infection in order to identify possible prognostic factors of spontaneous resolution and to gain more understanding of early characteristics responsible for viral clearance or persistence. Materials and methods. Eight patients with acute symptomatic hepatitis C were prospectively followed up for more than 6 months (range, 8–14 months). None of the individuals received antiviral therapy during the study period. We analyzed biochemical, virological, and immunological parameters of these patients detected at different time-points of the follow-up. Plasma HCV RNA was quantitated using TaqManâ real-time polymerase chain reaction. Virusspecific CD4+ T cells were enumerated by interferon-gamma (IFN-g) ELISpot assay. Results. Two of eight individuals resolved HCV spontaneously, while the remaining patients developed chronic HCV infection. HCV RNA became undetectable within 14 days of the study, followed by a rapid alanine aminotransferase normalization in patients with resolved infection. On the contrary, chronically infected subjects demonstrated persistent viremia or intermittently undetectable HCV-RNA, accompanied by polyphasic alanine aminotransferase profile throughout the study. Patients with self-limited hepatitis C displayed the strongest virus-specific CD4+ T (IFN-g) cell reactivity within the first weeks of the follow-up, while persistently infected subjects initially showed a weak antiviral CD4+ T (IFN-g) cell response. Conclusions. In most cases, acute hepatitis C progresses to chronic disease. Viral clearance within the first month after clinical presentation accompanied by monophasic alanine aminotransferase profile could predict recovery. Early and strong CD4+/Th1 immune response against HCV might play an important role in the disease resolution.

scholarly journals Characteristics of acute hepatitis C

2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 564-571
Author(s):  
Nikola Mitrovic ◽  
Natasa Popovic ◽  
Dragan Delic ◽  
Neda Stojkovic-Svirtlih
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C

Introduction. Acute hepatitis C most frequently develops after parenteral infection of hepatitis C virus. The disease often develops into chronic infection, although it can resolve spontaneously. Interferon alpha (INF-?) is used in therapy, but still without precise treatment recommendations. Objective. The aim was to present characteristics of patients with acute hepatitis C and to assess effectiveness of using recombinant INF-? in therapy. Methods. Total of 55 patients with acute hepatitis C, hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Belgrade from January 2005 to December 2012 were enrolled in this study. Forty-one patients were under follow-up over six months for evaluation of the development of the disease into a chronic infection and effectiveness of treatment with INF-?. Results. Eighty percent of patients were male of average age 29.6?8.6 years; in 61.8% patients intravenous drug abuse was determined as risk factor. Thirty patients (54.1%) had no symptoms and 38.2% were icteric. Acute hepatitis C spontaneously resolved in 33.3% patients, while in the treated group 79.6% of patients completely recovered (p=0.006). Treatment success was 92.9% in the group of patients who started with treatment before the 45th day of disease, while in the patients who started treatment later the success rated 58.3% (p=0.037). Conclusion. Acute hepatitis C is most common in young male adults infected via injection drug abuse. The use of INF-? is effective in the treatment of the disease, and success of the treatment is more probable if treatment is started before the 45th day.

scholarly journals Early treatment of acute hepatitis C infection may be highly effective

2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
New England ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Interferon Alfa ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis C Infection ◽  
Prompt Treatment ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Landmark Study

A study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that prompt treatment with interferon in those acutely infected with hepatitis C virus prevented chronic infection in almost all (98%) patients (1). In this landmark study, 44 patients with acute hepatitis C were given 5 mU of interferon alfa-2b for four weeks daily, and then three times a week for another 20 weeks.

Treatment of acute hepatitis C infection with interferon-alfa 2b monotherapy prevents development of chronic HCV infection

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A567-A567 ◽  
Author(s):  
E JAECKEL ◽  
M CORNBERG ◽  
T SANTANTONIO ◽  
J MAYER ◽  
H WEDEMEYER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Interferon Alfa ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis C Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv

Long-lasting Imprint in the Soluble Inflammatory Milieu despite Early Treatment of Acute Symptomatic Hepatitis C

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvi Khera ◽  
Yanqin Du ◽  
Daniel Todt ◽  
Katja Deterding ◽  
Benedikt Strunz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis C Infection ◽  
Partial Restoration ◽  
Acute Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Inflammatory Milieu

Abstract Background Treatment with direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection leads to partial restoration of soluble inflammatory mediators (SIMs). In contrast, we hypothesized that early DAA treatment of acute hepatitis C with DAAs may normalize most SIMs. Methods In this study, we made use of a unique cohort of acute symptomatic hepatitis C who cleared HCV with a 6-week course of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. Plasma samples were used for proximity extension assay (PEA) measuring 92 proteins. Results Profound SIM alterations were observed in acute HCV patients, with marked upregulation of IL-6 and CXCL10 while certain mediators were down-regulated (e.g. MCP-4, IL-7). During treatment and follow-up, the majority of SIMs decreased but not all normalized (e.g. CDCP1, IL-18). Of note, SIMs that were down-regulated before DAA treatment remained suppressed while others that were initially unchanged, declined to lower values during treatment and follow-up (e.g.CD244). Conclusions Acute hepatitis C was associated with marked changes in the soluble inflammatory milieu as compared to both chronic hepatitis patients and healthy controls. Whereas early DAA treatment partly normalized this altered signature, long-lasting imprints of HCV remained. Thus, acute HCV-induced changes in the immune system may persist even after a short duration of viremia.

Diagnosis of Acute Hepatitis C: anti-HCV or HCV-RNA?

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 556-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Møller ◽  
H. B. Krarup
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C

scholarly journals Pegylated Interferon Alfa‐2a Monotherapy for Hemodialysis Patients with Acute Hepatitis C

2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen‐Hua Liu ◽  
Cheng‐Chao Liang ◽  
Chun‐Jen Liu ◽  
Jou‐Wei Lin ◽  
Shih‐I Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Interferon Alfa ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
Pegylated Interferon Alfa

Follow-up study of acute hepatitis C

1994 ◽  
Vol 138 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 71-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Tan ◽  
S. W. K. Im ◽  
W. W. Peng ◽  
M. H. Ng
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Acute Hepatitis C ◽  
Follow Up Study
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