title: Detection of hepatitis C viral RNA in serum of a patient with acute non A, non B hepatitis.
abstract: The sequence of serologic events in a patient with acute type C hepatitis associated with intravenous drug abuse is described. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) ribonucleic acid was detectable in serum during the acute episode of hepatitis, whereas antibody to the hepatitis C virus appeared later, after the acute illness had subsided. The patient developed chronic hepatitis with persistently elevated serum aminotransferase activities. Both hepatitis C viral ribonucleic acid and antibody to hepatitis C virus persisted in serum, together with elevated serum aminotransferases. Thus, detection of HCV RNA may be useful in the diagnosis of acute type C hepatitis, particularly in the absence of detectable antibody to the hepatitis C virus.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Studies Section, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Waxman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Feinstone
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Bisceglie
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001483:Base Sequence; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000637:Transaminases