Assessment of long-term outcomes of hepatitis C virus infection in a cohort of patients with acute hepatitis in 1971-1975: results of a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
To examine the long-term effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a cohort of patients admitted to Fairfield Hospital with hepatitis from 1971 to 1975. The availability of stored sera from this time enabled testing to identify those who were anti-HCV positive on admission.


METHODS
Sixteen per cent (n = 230) of the cohort tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV). The 'unexposed' group was selected from those who were anti-HCV negative. Systematic approaches were used to locate the cohort and health outcomes assessed by a study specific questionnaire and clinical review with repeat serology and liver function tests.


RESULTS
Complete follow up has been achieved on a subset of 35 HCV-seropositive and 70 seronegative individuals. The seropositive group was significantly more likely to have given a history of injecting drug use, the presumed route of infection. The seropositive group was also more likely to have elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels, but only two (6%) were known to have progressed to cirrhosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-HCV-positive individuals followed up to date are at increased risk of liver-related pathology, but few had progressed to cirrhotic liver disease. This differs from findings of transfusion-related studies and suggests, within the limitations of the study, that the natural history of community acquired HCV may be more benign.
Rodger
A J
AJ
Epidemiology and Social Research Unit, The Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia. rodger@mbcmr.unimelb.edu.au
Thomson
J A
JA
Thompson
S C
SC
Jolley
D
D
Mijch
A M
AM
Lanigan
A
A
Crofts
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies