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KMID : 0882419990560060685
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Korean Journal of Medicine
1999 Volume.56 No. 6 p.685 ~ p.690
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Clinical Features of Hepatitis A in Korean Adults
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Abstract
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Objective : This study was aimed to characterize the clinical features and course of acute hepatitis A in Korean adults.
Methods : One-hundred and thirteen cases of acute hepatitis A, diagnosed between Jan. 1995 to July 1998 at 6 medical centers in Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical course of 94 cases with follow-up duration longer than 3 months were analyzed.
Results : The median age was 26 (16-65) years and 973% of the patients were under 40 years. The presumed sources of infection were identifed in 62 cases (54.9%). Among those, the leading source was ingestion of raw food. All patients showed normalization of bilirubin level within 8 weeks. The ALT levels normalized within 8 weeks in all patients except three patients (3.2%). Three patients with prolonged elevation of ALT showed second rise of ALT, suggesting a possibility of relapsing hepatitis. Prolonged fever (>38C) more than 10 days was observed in 3 patients (3.2%). One case showed pro-longed elevation of alkaline phosphatase (> x3 upper normal limit). No case of fulminant hepatic failure or death was observed.
Conclusion The majority of cases with acute hepatitis A in Korean adults showed self-limited course with full recovery.
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KEYWORD
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