title: Biphasic form of hepatitis A virus infection: a frequent variant in Argentina.
abstract: In a retrospective study, we review here the clinical presentation of patients with the biphasic form of hepatitis A, a variant of viral hepatitis characterised by an increase in ALAT levels after an initial recovery in clinical condition and laboratory tests. Twenty-one patients were diagnosed as having a biphasic form; they represent about 10% of a selected population of hepatitis A cases. Six patients were asymptomatic. Eleven patients were jaundiced, nine of them showing a "cholestatic" pattern. The second phase of the disease had a more protracted course and displayed higher ALAT levels than the first phase. The total duration of the disease was 120 +/- 28 (mean +/- SD) days, and its course was benign.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001118:Argentina; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005719:gamma-Globulins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin