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  • Title: Identified cases of acute hepatitis C from computerized laboratory database: a hospital-based epidemiological and clinical study.
    Author: Hung CH, Lu SN, Wang JH, Hung SF, Chen CH, Hu TH, Lee CM, Changchien CS.
    Journal: J Infect; 2008 Apr; 56(4):274-80. PubMed ID: 18346790.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of acute hepatitis C (AHC) relies on documented positive-seroconversion of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) that is infrequently encountered. To clarify the epidemiology and clinical course of AHC, we tried to find more AHC patients from a computerized laboratory database by using a supplemental criterion of rising anti-HCV titer. METHODS: All the computerized laboratory databases of anti-HCV and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were reviewed. Candidates for AHC were identified by either anti-HCV positive seroconversion, rise of anti-HCV titer (signal to cut-off ratio (S/CO) ratio < 40 to > or = 40), or spontaneous HCV RNA clearance. AHC cases and their matched chronic hepatitis C controls were interviewed by a case-control study concerning risk factors. RESULTS: AHC was identified in 123 patients (68 men and 55 women; median age: 48.4+/-13.9 years), who had higher rates of recent surgery (p=0.037) and frequent injection therapy (p=0.036) compared to controls. Self-limited AHC was observed in 18 (19.1%, 95% confidence interval: 12.3-25.9%) of 94 AHC patients who had been followed for 6 months, with a higher bilirubin level (> or = 2 vs. < 2, p=0.007) compared to those evolved to chronic infection. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of a laboratory database for anti-HCV and ALT might uncover more AHC candidates to disclose the epidemiology and clinical course of AHC.
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