Long-term follow-up of posttransfusion and sporadic chronic hepatitis non-A, non-B and frequency of circulating antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The natural course of chronic hepatitis non-A, non-B (HNANB) was documented for 3-20 yr (mean 8 yr) in 86 patients, who attended our special ambulance between 1981 and 1988. Sixty five of the 86 patients (75%) were positive for circulating antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV). Twenty four patients had chronic posttransfusion (PT)-HNANB (18 anti-HCV-positive; 75%), and 62 patients had sporadic (S)-HNANB (47 anti-HCV-positive; 75%). Twenty nine per cent of patients with chronic PT-HNANB had sustained normalization of aminotransferases after a period up to 5 yr, 55% demonstrated chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and 16% progressed to chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with transition to cirrhosis. In the group with chronic S-HNANB, 2% of patients showed remission, 43% had stable CPH and 55% progressed to CAH or cirrhosis. However, development of cirrhotic complications required many years. Transition from CAH to CPH or remission was not observed. The results indicate that 75% of both patients groups with chronic PT- and S-HNANB are infected with the same agent, of which antibodies are detected by the new anti-HCV assay. There was no statistical association between the severity of the disease and the presence of anti-HCV. The different proportions of progressive courses in chronic PT- and S-HNANB might be explained by the patient recruitment.
Hopf
U
U
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Freie Universität Berlin, F.R.G.
Möller
B
B
Küther
D
D
Stemerowicz
R
R
Lobeck
H
H
Lüdtke-Handjery
A
A
Walter
E
E
Blum
H E
HE
Roggendorf
M
M
Deinhardt
F
F
D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D000637:Transaminases