Clinicolaboratory characteristics of acute viral hepatitis C in parenteraldrug addicts

Aim, To study clinical and laboratory manifestations of acute viral hepatit is C in parenteral drug addicts. Materials and methods. Acute vir al hepatitis C (AVHC),vas diagnosed in 114 patients included in the trial by serological evidence and virus RNA deter mination at polymerase chain reaction. Among the examinees there were 63 ad dicts and 51 non-addicts. Results, In addicts, AVHC manifests with pain in the liver, anorexia, moder ate intoxication, hepatomegalia, abstinence syndrome. At admission most the addicts had a moderate rise in bilirubin concentration with prolonged norm alization. 25% of the addicts had ALT < 1400 micromol/l/h, its lowering was slow. In convalescence, the addicts' liver long remained enlarged, concent rations of ALT, alkaline phosphatase, GGT remained high. Conclusion. VHC runs a moderate course parenteral drug addicts, shows polym orphic symptomatologygy, hepatomegalia, high blood levels of ALT Convalesce nce is long, hepatic functions recover slowly.