[Viral hepatitis C. Personal experience with diagnostic, monitoring and epidemiologic studies].

: In the period from 1991 to 1993, 18 patients with the acute viral hepatitis type C were treated and followed up--13 men and 5 women, the average age of 42 years. The group of 6 patients (4 men and two women) with the "old" proven liver cirrhosis, whose etiology was unknown for 20 years, was analyzed. The investigations showed that the acute viral hepatitis type C usually began with the mild subjective disorders. The half of the patients did not have either jaundice or hepatomegaly, only half of them recover, and the first cases of cirrhosis could have been expected almost as early as a year after the beginning of illness. The developed liver cirrhoses remained compensated for years. About 58% of patients got infected parenterally, and the rest of them could have gotten infected in other manner. ELISA test showed great reliability in proving the antibodies against the viral hepatitis type C in the confirming the diagnosis of illness.