title: [Hepatitis C: clinical aspects, course and therapy].
abstract: Clinically, acute hepatitis C is an asymptomatic disease in up to 90% of cases. Transaminases fluctuate characteristically. Anti-HCV (RIBA-II) and HCV-RNA (PCR) are diagnostic early in the course of the disease. The risk of chronification is high, exceeding 50% of cases, irrespective of disease transmission (parenterally or sporadic). Alpha-interferon is applicated in pilot-studies to reduce the risk of chronification, with varying results. Chronic hepatitis C is an insidious disease. Again, most cases are asymptomatic. Bilirubin is normal. GPT-activity tends to fluctuate during the course. Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA can be detected in serum. About 20% of cases progress to cirrhosis (and HCC) after a long-lasting disease (20 to 30 years after infection). Alpha-Interferon therapy is successful in about 25% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Gastroenterologie, Medizinischen Klinik, Städtischen Krankenanstalten Esslingen, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Universität Tübingen.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
vernacular_title: Hepatitis C: Klinik, Verlauf und Therapie.