[Medical follow-up of patients with positive serology for hepatitis C virus].
OBJECTIVE
A screening campaign requested by the French Health Insurance Fund was performed in the Lyon area to access the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus in patients from 271 general practitioners and to observe the follow-up of the patients with had positive serology. A total of 101 patients had already had hepatitis C virus antibodies and 30 patients had newly detected antibodies against hepatitis C virus. All subject received appropriate medical care. The aim of this study was to analyse medical follow-up.


METHODS
Follow-up was performed for one year by the patient's general practitioner or a specialist of liver disease. Clinical, biological, histological and virological data were collected and treatment was proposed when appropriate. Information was gathered anonymously by phone.


RESULTS
Follow-up was regular for 28 patients (93%). During this follow-up, ALAT levels remained within the normal limit for 13 patients (43%) and 6 of them had undetectable viral RNA by PCR. In the other patients (50%), a liver biopsy was affered to 11 patients (40%), and performed in 9 (30%). Treatment was started in 8 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study on medical follow-up are satisfying. The general practitioner plays a key role in the follow-up of patients infected by hepatitis C virus.
Sahajian
F
F
ADHEC, Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Domaine Rockefeller, Lyon, France.
Bailly
F
F
Caillat-Vallet
E
E
Pradat
P
P
Excler
G
G
Sepetjan
M
M
Trépo
C
C
Fabry
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase