Spontaneous elimination of hepatitis C virus infection: a retrospective study on demographic, clinical, and serological correlates.
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.
Wietzke-Braun
Perdita
P
Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Georg-August-Universitat, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, Gottingen 37075, Germany.
Manhardt
Larissa-Bettina
LB
Rosenberger
Albert
A
Uy
Angela
A
Ramadori
Giuliano
G
Mihm
Sabine
S
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral
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