Abstract
Background. Experimental hepatitis C virus infection in chimpanzees has shown that natural hepatitis C virus infection does not induce protective immunity and reinfection can occur in seroconverted animals. Aim. To study the clinical, virological and histological outcome of a new infection sustained by a different hepatitis C virus strain after a primary infection with eradication of the original virus. Patients and methods. A young Italian man with chronic hepatitis C virus type 4 hepatitis was treated with Interferon therapy and achieved a sustained biochemical and virological response. After long follow-up, an asymptomatic flare-up of alanine transaminase occurred. This alanine transaminase increase was associated with serum hepatitis C virus RNA positivity and a low viral load, and the infecting hepatitis C virus genotype was type 3. The clinical and virological course of this new infection is described. Results and Conclusions. This report shows that there is no protective immunity against hepatitis C virus type 3 after infection by hepatitis C virus type 4 strain.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 591-594 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Digestive and Liver Disease |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 7 |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Chronic hepatitis
- Genotype
- Hepatitis C virus
- Interferon
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology