[Acute hepatitis C virus infection--clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment].

Acute infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) usually runs a mild or asymptomatic course and therefore often goes undiagnosed. In the individual patient, acute hepatitis C (AHC) cannot clinically be distinguished from other forms of viral hepatitis. The diagnosis is based on rising serum alanine aminotransferase level, anti-HCV IgG seroconversion and detection of HCV-RNA in serum. In recent years there has been an increase in our understanding of the natural course of AHC, and progress has been made in its treatment. In this article we describe the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of AHC and review recent developments in its treatment.