title: Spontaneous elimination of hepatitis C virus infection: a retrospective study on demographic, clinical, and serological correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find correlates to spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, this study compared individuals with self-limited and chronic infection with regard to clinical, demographic, and serological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven anti-HCV positive and repeatedly HCV RNA negative individuals were considered to have resolved HCV infection spontaneously. To determine the viral genotype these patients had been infected with HCV serotyping was performed. For comparison reasons, 62 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled. Cases and controls were compared stratified for age and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retrospective analysis showed (1) a lower humoral reactivity to HCV in patients with self-limited compared to chronic HCV-infection and (2) that younger age, history of iv drug use, and acute/post-acute hepatitis A or B co-infections, but not viral genotypes, are independent correlates for spontaneous HCV clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stronger humoral reactivity to HCV in patients with persistent infections and in those with a history of iv drug use is supposed to be due to continuous or repeated contact(s) to the antigen. Metachronous hepatitis A or hepatitis B infections might favor HCV clearance.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Georg-August-Universitat, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, Gottingen 37075, Germany.
authors: Perdita
authors: P
authors: Wietzke-Braun
authors: Larissa-Bettina
authors: LB
authors: Manhardt
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Rosenberger
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Uy
authors: Giuliano
authors: G
authors: Ramadori
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Mihm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral
references: J Gen Virol. 1995 Jul;76 ( Pt 7):1737-48
references: 9049379
references: J Clin Virol. 2006 Mar;35(3):317-20
references: 16316779
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Jun;31(6):1493-503
references: 7686182
references: Lancet. 2002 Apr 27;359(9316):1478-83
references: 11988247
references: Hepatology. 2004 Apr;39(4):1147-71
references: 15057920
references: Arch Virol. 2005 Feb;150(2):261-71
references: 15480856
references: Arch Virol. 1994;139(3-4):379-88
references: 7832643
references: Am J Pathol. 2003 Sep;163(3):1167-75
references: 12937158
references: J Hepatol. 2002 Dec;37(6):866-9
references: 12445431
references: N Engl J Med. 1999 Aug 19;341(8):556-62
references: 10451460
references: J Viral Hepat. 2006 Jan;13(1):34-41
references: 16364080
references: Am J Ther. 2004 Sep-Oct;11(5):354-65
references: 15356431
references: J Immunol. 2005 Sep 15;175(6):3603-13
references: 16148104
references: Hepatology. 2006 Jan;43(1):91-9
references: 16323211
references: Hepatology. 2002 Nov;36(5 Suppl 1):S21-9
references: 12407573
references: N Engl J Med. 2001 Jul 5;345(1):41-52
references: 11439948
references: Gastroenterology. 2003 Jul;125(1):80-8
references: 12851873
references: Gut. 1999 Mar;44(3):424-9
references: 10026332
references: Scand J Infect Dis. 2006;38(9):818-21
references: 16938741
references: Liver. 1999 Aug;19(4):348-53
references: 10459635
references: Lancet. 2005 Jan 22-28;365(9456):327-9
references: 15664228
references: Hepatology. 1997 Mar;25(3):735-9
references: 9049227
references: N Engl J Med. 1998 Jan 29;338(5):286-90
references: 9445408
references: Dig Dis Sci. 1996 Jun;41(6):1256-64
references: 8654161
references: Hepatology. 2002 Nov;36(5 Suppl 1):S1-2
references: 12407571
references: J Hepatol. 2006 Dec;45(6):770-8
references: 17034895
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Jan;37(1):68-73
references: 9854066
references: Hepatology. 2004 Oct;40(4):892-9
references: 15382122
references: Gastroenterology. 2003 Aug;125(2):597-604
references: 12891562
references: Nat Med. 2000 May;6(5):578-82
references: 10802716
references: Hepatology. 2002 Nov;36(5):1285-91
references: 12395342
references: Gastroenterology. 2004 Apr;126(4):1024-9
references: 15057742
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Jul 6;101(27):10149-54
references: 15220475
references: Hepatology. 2006 Nov;44(5):1139-45
references: 17058216
references: Blood. 2006 Feb 1;107(3):892-7
references: 16204310
references: J Exp Med. 2001 Nov 19;194(10):1395-406
references: 11714747
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Jun 1;42(11):1536-43
references: 16652310
references: J Hepatol. 1997 Mar;26(3):484-91
references: 9075653