HCV genotype 2 as a risk factor for reactivation of chronic HCV infection

Abstract

The criteria for a diagnosis of AHC were: (a) negative serum anti-HCV and normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the four months preceding the onset of symptoms; and (b) positive anti-HCV/HCV-RNA and increased ALT (>5 times the highest value of normal) during the acute stage of the illness. The diagnosis of r-CHC was made for patients with: (a) positive serum anti-HCV and plasma HCV-RNA during the six months before the onset of symptoms and on admission; and (b) ALT increase >5 times the mean of the ALT values observed during the previous six months. As a control group for patients in the r-CHC group, 57 hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, symptom free, untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC group), hospitalised in the same period for their first liver biopsy, were pair matched by age (±5 years), sex, and risk factors for acquisition of parenteral infection.