Outcomes and Treatment of Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection in a United States Population

Background & Aims: Acute hepatitis C infection progresses to chronic infection in up to 80% of infected persons. Reports from Europe indicate that early treatment of acute hepatitis C infection produces sustained virologic response rates as high as 80%-98%. However, the outcome of acute hepatitis C infection in United States cohorts is not well-characterized. Methods: We describe the clinical course of 28 episodes of acute hepatitis C infection in 24 persons at our institution. Results: Of the 28 infections, 7 episodes resolved spontaneously. Of the remaining 21 episodes, 16 were treated, and 5 did not receive treatment. Of the 16 treated episodes, 4 received interferon and ribavirin, 11 received pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and 1 was treated initially with interferon monotherapy followed by pegylated interferon monotherapy. Among those episodes treated with interferon, 3 of 4 experienced sustained virologic response. Among those episodes treated with pegylated interferon, all 12 achieved SVR. In total, 15 of 16 treated patients (94%) experienced SVR. In all, 18 of the 24 patients (75%) experienced spontaneous or treatment-induced sustained virologic clearance. Conclusions: Our experience with treated and untreated acute HCV infection is comparable to that observed in Europe. Patients treated with antiviral therapy had an excellent response. Randomized trials to investigate immediate versus delayed treatment of acute hepatitis C infection are warranted. In view of these strongly positive outcomes, increased vigilance for acute hepatitis C becomes essential.