title: [Current status of acute hepatitis C].
abstract: Acute hepatitis C (AHC) is an increasing health issue. Despite the decline of blood-to-blood transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through donor screening programs and a decline in intravenous drug use, the incidence of sexual transmission has now increased, particularly in HIV-infected homosexual patients. The presentation is almost always asymptomatic, which complicates diagnosis. Spontaneous clearance of the virus occurs in 25% of cases and usually, within the first three months after onset of symptoms and in symptomatic patients. If serum HCV-RNA remains detectable after this period, antiviral treatment should be started without delay, since sustained viral response rate in the acute phase is higher than that achieved with chronic liver disease. The optimal treatment regimen (interferon alone or combined with ribavirin) and its duration are not clearly established at the present time.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infecciones, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rebollar
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larrousse
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loncà
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallolas
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laguno
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin