Abstract
Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often a clinically silent infection, and is therefore rarely detected. A high index of clinical suspicion in addition to careful serological and virological assessment is required to identify the disease, and to determine the eventual clinical outcome after primary infection; the minority of acutely infected individuals spontaneously control viremia in long term whilst the majority become persistently infected. Here, we describe the clinical presentation of acute HCV infection and the patterns of viremia and liver alanine transaminase levels (ALT) observed. We discuss the serological and virological assessment and potential pitfalls in accurately diagnosing acute HCV. Good prospective studies that identify host and virological factors that determine clinical symptoms and disease outcome are difficult to perform due to the asymptomatic nature of infection, but some progress has been made in this field. Host factors including gender, age at time of infection, prior resolution of infection, symptomatic infection and host immune responses, and viral factors such as the nature of the infecting quasispecies and more speculatively viral genotype, are some features that have been correlated with disease outcome. In spite of this, on an individual patient level, it is currently not possible to predict those that will resolve infection. Identifying, in detail therefore, those factors that are responsible for viral control remains an important research goal not only to aid clinical management but also to develop effective treatment and vaccination strategies.
Keywords: Acute hepatitis C, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, outcome, host, viral, factors
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Acute Hepatitis C: Clinical Aspects, Diagnosis, and Outcome of Acute HCV Infection
Volume: 14 Issue: 17
Author(s): P. Fabris, V. M. Fleming, M. T. Giordani and E. Barnes
Affiliation:
Keywords: Acute hepatitis C, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, outcome, host, viral, factors
Abstract: Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often a clinically silent infection, and is therefore rarely detected. A high index of clinical suspicion in addition to careful serological and virological assessment is required to identify the disease, and to determine the eventual clinical outcome after primary infection; the minority of acutely infected individuals spontaneously control viremia in long term whilst the majority become persistently infected. Here, we describe the clinical presentation of acute HCV infection and the patterns of viremia and liver alanine transaminase levels (ALT) observed. We discuss the serological and virological assessment and potential pitfalls in accurately diagnosing acute HCV. Good prospective studies that identify host and virological factors that determine clinical symptoms and disease outcome are difficult to perform due to the asymptomatic nature of infection, but some progress has been made in this field. Host factors including gender, age at time of infection, prior resolution of infection, symptomatic infection and host immune responses, and viral factors such as the nature of the infecting quasispecies and more speculatively viral genotype, are some features that have been correlated with disease outcome. In spite of this, on an individual patient level, it is currently not possible to predict those that will resolve infection. Identifying, in detail therefore, those factors that are responsible for viral control remains an important research goal not only to aid clinical management but also to develop effective treatment and vaccination strategies.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Fabris P., Fleming M. V., Giordani T. M. and Barnes E., Acute Hepatitis C: Clinical Aspects, Diagnosis, and Outcome of Acute HCV Infection, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (17) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784746789
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784746789 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
4Aβ1-15-Derived Monoclonal Antibody Reduces More Aβ Burdens and Neuroinflammation than Homologous Vaccine in APP/PS1 Mice
Current Alzheimer Research Emerging Therapeutic Approaches to COVID-19
Current Pharmaceutical Design Immunomodulation in Inflammatory Neuropathies: Rationale and Safety
Current Drug Safety Effects of Transition Metals in the Conversion Mechanism of Prion Protein and in the Pathogenesis of Prion Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Modulation Effects of Piracetam and Ginkgo biloba on the Cognitive and Working Memory Functions: Psychometric Study
Current Psychopharmacology Effect of Different Carriers on In Vitro and In Vivo Drug Release Behavior of Aceclofenac Proniosomes
Current Drug Delivery Implications of Palmitoleic Acid (Palmitoleate) On Glucose Homeostasis, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
Current Drug Targets Lentinus edodes: A Macrofungus with Pharmacological Activities
Current Medicinal Chemistry Immunological Mechanisms of Drug Hypersensitivity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Advances on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor as a Molecular Target for Breast Cancer Therapeutics
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Dependence of DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity of Dietary Flavonoid Quercetin on Reaction Environment
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors, Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Investigation of Gene Expression Pattern of 5HTR2a and MAO-A in PBMCs of Individuals Who Had Been Exposed to Air Pollution in Highly Polluted Area
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Delivery of Neurotherapeutics Across the Blood Brain Barrier in Stroke
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nur77 Family of Nuclear Hormone Receptors
Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy Triggering of Apoptosis and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in NK Cells: Regulation by Cyclosporin A
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents The Functional Logic of Cytosolic 5’-Nucleotidases.
Current Medicinal Chemistry Use of Lactobacilli and their Pheromone-Based Regulatory Mechanism in Gene Expression and Drug Delivery
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Action of Vitamin D Analogs Targeting Vitiligo Depigmentation
Current Drug Targets Role of β7 Integrins in Intestinal Lymphocyte Homing and Retention
Current Molecular Medicine