Demographic, clinical, and serological correlates for the outcome of hepatitis C virus infection

Background & Aims: Worldwide, an estimated 170 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). While most of them develop a persistent infection, a smaller proportion of individuals is able to eradicate the virus. The aim of this study was to compare patients with self-limited and patients with chronic HCV infections with respect to demographic, clinical, and serological data. Methods: Sixty-seven anti-HCV positive and repeatedly HCV-RNA negative individuals were identified between 1992 and 2000. These patients were considered to have recovered from HCV infection spontaneously. For comparison reasons,…