Treatment of acute hepatitis C virus infection with interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin: case report and review of the literature.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection becomes chronic in about 85 % of individuals as demonstrated by the persistence of HCV. It is necessary to treat acute hepatitis C infection. Interferon-alpha is generally used for the treatment of acute HCV infection.


METHODS
A 55-year-old woman with a history of fatigue and icter was diagnosed as acute hepatitis C virus infection. She was treated with interferon-alpha 2b 3 million unite sc three times in a week and ribavirin 1000 mg daily for 6 months. Within 2 weeks of therapy, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) had became normal. At the end of the 3 months of therapy, HCV RNA was negative and remained negative 6 months after the end of interferon treatment (sustained response).


CONCLUSIONS
This report suggests that interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin may have a role in treatment of acute hepatitis C virus infection.
Leblebicioglu
Hakan
H
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School, Samsun, Turkey. hakanomu@omu.edu.tr
Bayirli
Derya
D
Esen
Saban
S
Sunbul
Mustafa
M
Eroglu
Cafer
C