RESUMO
Thirty two patients (18 males whose ages ranged from 32 to 68 years old) with hepatitis C virus chronic hepatitis (positive anti-HCV by ELISA, conformed by RIBA II) that were followed by the authors during 2 to 25 years, were retrospectively analyzed. 13 subjects had a history of blood transfusions, one had an accidental pinprick and other sexual contact with a HCV positive individual; the transmission source was not identified in the resting 19 subjects. Only 5 individuals had an acute onset. The rest of the patients had a few symptoms with moderate and fluctuating transaminase elevations. Liver biopsy at the onset showed a chronic hepatitis with moderate activity, even in 15 individuals with cirrhosis (47 percent). During follow up, six subjects deteriorated clinically, appearing liver failure and 3 of these died 4, 5 and 14 years after the disease appearance. No subject developed a hepatocarcinoma