Viral clearance or persistence after acute hepatitis C infection: interim results from a prospective study.

Objective: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) has a high rate of chronic evolution; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We investigated natural clinical, virological, and immunological course of acute HCV infection in order to identify possible prognostic factors of spontaneous resolution and to gain more understanding of early characteristics responsible for viral clearance or persistence.

Materials And Methods: Eight patients with acute symptomatic hepatitis C were prospectively followed up for more than 6 months (range, 8-14 months).