Acute hepatitis C in Korea: Different modes of infection, high rate of spontaneous recovery, and low rate of seroconversion

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2011-07, Vol.83 (7), p.1195-1202
• Main Authors: Kim, Jong Yeop, Won, Ji Eon, Jeong, Sook-Hyang, Park, Sang Jong, Hwang, Seong Gyu, Kang, Sook-Kyoung, Bae, Si Hyun, Kim, Young Seok, Lee, Han Chu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Acute Disease; acute hepatitis; Adult; Aged; Alanine Transaminase - analysis; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepacivirus - physiology; Hepatitis C - diagnosis; Hepatitis C - drug therapy; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - transmission; Hepatitis C Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis C Antibodies - biosynthesis; hepatitis C virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Korea; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Needlestick Injuries - blood; Remission, Spontaneous; Republic of Korea; Risk Factors; RNA, Viral - analysis; seroconversion; Surgical Procedures, Operative - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome; Viral diseases; Virology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.22100

The epidemiology and clinical outcomes of acute hepatitis C are different geographically. This study aimed to investigate the mode of infection, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of acute hepatitis C in Korea. Forty‐seven patients with acute hepatitis C were enrolled consecutively in a study conducted in seven medical centers. The patients with the mean age of 45.8 years had mostly mild symptoms. A healthcare‐related procedure was the most common exposure history (42.5%): acupuncture (17%), surgery (10.6%), needle‐stick injury (8.5%), and other medical procedures (6.4%). There was no case of intravenous drug use. Twenty‐one patients (44.7%) recovered spontaneously. Among the 16 patients who received antiviral therapy (34%), all of the 12 evaluable patients had a sustained virologic response, while 10 patients (21.3%) who did not receive antiviral therapy progressed to chronic infection. The overall seroconversion rate of anti‐HCV antibody was 61.7%. The patients who recovered spontaneously had significantly lower rate of seroconversion compared with the patients who did not clear spontaneously the infection. In conclusion, acute hepatitis C in Korea was related to various healthcare procedures, including acupuncture, characterized by high rates of spontaneous recovery and low rates of seroconversion, which may be associated with different modes of infection and ethnic differences. The characteristics of acute hepatitis C in Asian countries warrants further study. J. Med. Virol. 83:1195–1202, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.