慢性丙型肝炎患者病毒基因分型与肝生化、脂代谢血清学指标的相关性研究

目的：探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者病毒基因型分布特点,以及不同 HCV 基因型患者肝生化和脂代谢指标的差异。方法应用荧光定量 PCR 和基因分型芯片对慢性丙型肝炎患者血清样本进行 HCV RNA 检测和基因分型,同时检测患者 GGT、ALT、AST、LDL-C、Apo-AⅠ、Apo-B、TG 和 TC。采用 SPSS19．0统计分析软件比较不同 HCV 基因型患者病毒载量、肝生化和脂代谢血清学指标的差异。结果我院慢性丙型肝炎患者中1b 型占77．1％,3b 型10．8％,2a 型7．4％,1b／2a 型3．5％,3a 型1．3％;1b 型和3b 型患者病毒载量高于2a 型和1b／2a 型（P ＜0．05）;3b 型患者 Apo-B和 TC 低于1b 型和2a 型患者（P ＜0．05）;肝生化和其余几项脂代谢指标在不同 HCV 基因型患者间无统计学差异。结论慢性丙型肝炎患者感染 HCV 1b 基因型较为常见,其次是3b 型和2a 型;不同 HCV 基因型患者肝生化无显著差异,但病毒载量和脂代谢指标差异有显著性。     

山东地区慢性HCV感染者病毒的基因型分布

目的明确山东地区慢性丙型肝炎及丙肝肝硬化患者感染丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的基因型分布,探讨HCV基因型与肝脏疾病严重程度及感染途径之间的关系。方法根据HCV 5′非编码区(NCR)设计基因芯片,对山东地区慢性HCV感染者(慢性丙型肝炎128例,丙肝肝硬化42例)应用基因芯片法检测HCV基因型,并对其中22份标本进行测序,比较慢性丙型肝炎、肝硬化病人HCV基因型分布以及不同途径感染的病HCV人基因型分布的差别。结果 168例患者标本可以分型,HCV基因型分别为:1b型106例,2a型48例,1a及3b型均为2例,1b+2a混合型9例,1a+1b混合型1例;对22例患者标本测序,1b型12例,2a型9例,3b型1例,与基因芯片法检测结果完全一致;肝硬化和慢性肝炎病人的HCV基因型分布差异无统计学意义(χ2=1.82,P>0.05),有输血史者和无输血史者HCV基因型分布差异无统计学意义(χ2=7.63,P>0.05)。结论山东地区HCV主要流行株是基因1b型,其次为2a型,同时有少量的1a、3b型以及混合感染,HCV基因型与疾病的进展及感染途径无关。     

基于核心基因、非结构基因5B序列的丙型肝炎病毒基因分型法与线性探针技术对广东地区慢性丙型肝炎患者基因分型的比较

目的 利用核心基因(core)、非结构基因5B(NS5B)序列与线性探针技术(LiPA)研究广东地区慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV的基因型分布,探讨LiPA基因分型的准确性.方法 分别采用core和NS5B片段序列和INNO-LiPA 2.0对广东地区110例慢性丙型肝炎患者进行基因分型.使用SPSS 10.0统计软件对数据进行分析,两样本间的比较采用x2检验.结果 110份HCV样本中有97份扩增到core区段序列,62份扩增到NS5B区段序列,同时扩增到core、NS5B序列的样本有57份.core与NS5B序列的分型结果一致,102份标本被分为1b、2a、3a、3b、6a 5个亚型,分别占61.8％、9.8％、3.9％、3.9％和20.6％.在基因型水平,除6型外,其他基因型均能通过INNO-LiPA2.0正确分型;在亚型水平,除1b和3b型,其他亚型未能被准确区分,其中81.5％的6a型被错分为1b型.结论 6a型已成为广东地区慢性丙型肝炎患者中第二大基因型,LiPA技术是否能准确区分6a型与1b型,有待进一步研究.     

郴州地区HCV基因型与病毒载量的相关性分析

目的了解本地区丙型肝炎的流行特征和基因型分布,并分析HCV基因1型与非基因1型病毒载量的关系。方法选择来自郴州地区的60例HCV RNA阳性的初治丙型肝炎患者,进行HCV RNA病毒载量及HCV基因分型检测,依据基因检测结果分为基因1型和非基因1型两组,并对两组进行病毒载量的比较。计量资料满足正态分布采用t检验,不满足正态采用秩和检验。结果本地区HCV基因型有1b、3b、6a、3a、2a、2a＋3a、5a型。其中,1b型25例,占41．6％,其次为3b、6a型各11例（18．3％）,3a型6例（10％）,2a型4例（6．6％）,2a＋3a型2例（3．3％）,5a型1例（1．7％）;HCV基因1型患者中,HCV RNA载量≤100IU／ml者1例、10^4～10^5IU／ml者4例、10^5～10^6IU／ml者10例、10^6～10^7IU／ml者10例;非基因1型患者中,HCV RNA载量≤10^4IU／ml者1例、10^4～10^5IU／ml者6例、10^5～10^6IU／ml者18例、10^6～10^7IU／ml者8例、HCVRNA载量≥100IU／ml者2例。两组病毒载量进行比较,差异无统计学意义（Z=-0．302,P=0．763．）。结论郴州地区HCV基因型以1b型为主,其次为3b和6a型,同时还存在3a型、2a型、5a型,以及2a／3a混合型。HCV基因1型与非基因1型病毒载量高低无区别。     

四川省丙型肝炎患者HCV基因分型及基线HCV NS5A耐药突变位点分析

目的检测四川省丙型肝炎患者HCV基因分型及HCV NS5A耐药突变位点的分布特征。方法收集2017年-2018年在四川省人民医院确诊的来自四川省的丙型肝炎患者160例,采集外周静脉血标本,使用Sanger测序法鉴定每一样本的HCV基因型及其亚型和HCV NS5A的基因序列。结果 160例丙型肝炎患者共测出1、2、3、6四种基因型和1b、2a、3a、3b、6a、6n六种基因亚型,其中以1b亚型检出率最高,占86.25%(138/160),其次为3b、6a亚型,均各占3.75%(6/160),余下6n型占2.50%(4/160),2a、3a型均各占1.875%(3/160)。在HCV 1b亚型丙型肝炎患者在中,HCV NS5A基因耐药突变检出率为18.84%(26/138),其中以Y93H耐药突变率较高,占17.39%(24/138),其次L31M耐药突变率为1.45%(2/138)。结论分析四川省丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型及HCV NS5A耐药突变位点的分布特点,可为该地区丙型肝炎患者基因型分布及耐药性研究和个体化抗病毒治疗提供指导依据。     

丙型肝炎病毒非编码区ABC程序酶切分型研究

目的为进一步了解中国是否存在HCV 3b基因及1a、2b和6a基因型感染，建立HCV 5′端非编码区(5′ NCR)不同基因型的基因库。方法分型方法按ABC程序进行，A应用BHH′(BsrBⅠ、HaeⅡ、HinfⅠ)复介内切酶消化5′NCR cDNA，可将不同基因型划分为5组：1a、1b，6a，2a、2b，3a，3b、4a。B应用BstU Ⅰ内切酶鉴别1a、1b。C应用Hae Ⅲ内切酶鉴别2a、2b、3b、4a及6a。电泳检测片段大小。结果(1)la、1b、2a、2b、3a、3b、4a、6a 8种基因型参比品的ABC分型结果表明，该8种基因型获得良好的分型效果。(2)93份HCV RNA阳性患者ABC分型结果表明，1b型感染率占66．67％，2a型18．28％，1b／2b型、3b型及2b型均为3．23％，2a／2b型和1b／2a型各为2．15％，1a型1．08％。结论结果表明应用HCV 5′-NCR ABC分型技术既保证了HCV RNA检测的灵敏度，又能完成1a-6a型中的8种基因型的鉴别。     

慢性丙型肝炎患者病毒基因分型与血清HCV RNA水平的关系探讨

目的研究HCV基因型的分布,以探讨不同基因型感染者血清HCV RNA载量的差异。方法采用PCR法检测218例慢性丙型肝炎患者血清HCV RNA;采用ELISA法检测抗-HCV抗体;使用全自动生化分析仪测定丙氨酸氨基转移酶;采用化学发光免疫分析法测定血清肝纤维化指标;采用基因芯片法进行HCV基因分型。结果在218例HCV RNA阳性血清中共检出9种基因型,分别是lb、2a、3a、3b、6型单基因型共208例和lb+2a、lb+3b、lb+6型、2a+3a共10例四种混合基因型,其中以lb型168例(77.1%)、2a型19例(8.7%)为主;在208例HCV单基因型感染患者中发现不同基因型感染者血清HCV RNA载量无统计学差异(F=0.932,P>0.05);在168例1b基因型和40例非lb基因型感染者,性别差异无统计学意义(x2=0.857,P>0.05),两型感染者之间肝纤维化指标差别比较也无统计学意义。结论我国HCV基因型以lb型为主,基因型与HCV RNA载量及ALT水平之间无相关性。     

慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型分析

目的研究慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型概况。方法采用基因芯片法检测HCV基因分型;采用PCR法测定HCV RNA定量。结果在570例患者中,HCV RNA阳性552例（95%）,其中1b型400例（72.4%）,2a型63例（11.4%）,3a型20例（3.6%）,3b型20例（3.6%）,1b＋2a型12例（2.1%）,1a型2例（0.4%）,6型7例（1.26%）,1b＋3a型1例（0.18%）,2a＋1b型3例（0.5%）,未定型24例（4.3%）;不同HCV基因型感染者血清HCVRNA水平无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。结论本组患者HCV基因型以1b型为主,2a型次之,多种混合型的出现提示HCV基因型呈现多样化趋势。     

四川地区丙型肝炎病毒基因型分布特点

目的研究四川地区丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的基因型分布特点。方法收集成都市公共卫生临床医疗中心2016年1月至2017年12月收治的376例慢性丙型肝炎患者的HCV基因分型、HCV-RNA及肝功能结果,并对其进行回顾性分析。结果 376例患者共检测出5种基因型,包括1b型264例(70.21%)、2a型17例(4.52%)、3型72例(19.15%)、3b型55例(14.63%)和6a型23例(6.12%)。不同HCV基因亚型在性别、年龄、HCV-RNA及肝功能指标等方面比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。3a型、3b和6a型以男性患者为主;2a型患者年龄最大,HCV RNA载量亦高于其他亚型;而6a型患者年龄最小,ALT、AST及TBil水平均低于其他亚型。结论四川地区HCV感染以基因1b型和3b型为主,不同基因亚型HCV感染者的病毒载量和肝功能具有一定差异。     

慢性丙型肝炎患者病毒基因型与IL-28B基因型分布

目的：了解慢性丙型肝炎患者白细胞介素-28B（IL-28B）基因型多态性分布的特点及其临床意义。方法在27例慢性丙型肝炎患者,分离外周血细胞DNA,采用IPLEX Gold法检测宿主IL-28B基因多态性;分析患者IL-28B基因型与血清丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）基因型、HCV RNA载量和肝功能指标的相关性。结果在27例慢性丙型肝炎患者中,感染HCV基因1型1例（3.7%）,1b基因型7例（25.9%）,其它基因型19例（19/27,70.4%）;在IL-28B基因型中,rs12979860 CC基因型、rs12980275 AA基因型及rs8099917 TT基因型共24例（88.9%）,而IL28B rs12979860 CT基因型、rs12980275 GA基因型和rs8099917 GT基因型共3例（11.1%）;在HCV基因1型或1b型感染者中,IL28B rs12979860 CC基因型、rs12980275 AA基因型和rs8099917 TT基因型占62.5%（5/8）,而HCV其他基因型感染者IL28B rs12979860 CC基因型、rs12980275 AA基因型和rs8099917 TT基因型占100%（19/19）;HCV基因1型或1b型感染者与HCV其他基因型感染者比,其IL28B rs12979860位点、rs12980275位点和rs8099917位点基因型分布有显著性差异（P＆lt;0.01）;IL-28B基因多态性分布与患者血清HCV RNA载量或肝功能指标的变化无显著性相关。结论本组慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型大多为非1型;大多数感染者IL-28B基因为rs12979860 CC、rs12980275 AA和rs8099917 TT基因型。     

聚乙二醇化干扰素-α对不同基因型慢性丙型肝炎患者治疗效果比较*

目的 观察应用聚乙二醇化干扰素-α（peg-IFNα）治疗丙性肝炎病毒（HCV）基因I型和非HCV I型感染的慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）患者的疗效差异。方法 2013年10月~2016年10月在我院治疗的108例CHC患者,其中HCV I型感染者58例,非HCV I型感染者50例,均接受peg-IFNα-2a联合利巴韦林治疗48周,停药后随访24周。采用荧光定量RT-PCR法检测血清HCV RNA,采用一步法聚合酶链式反应结合TaqMan技术和HCV分型特异性引物进行HCV基因分型。结果 治疗前,两组基线年龄、性别比例、体质指数（BMI）、血清ALT和HCV RNA水平比较,无显著性差异（P>0.05）;非HCV I型感染者快速病毒学应答（RVR）、早期病毒学应答（EVR）、治疗结束时病毒学应答（ETVR）和持续病毒学应答率（SVR）分别为74.0%、82.0%、88.0%和86.0%,均显著高于HCV I型感染者（分别为51.7%、60.3%、63.8%和58.6%,P<0.05）;67例获得RVR患者SVR发生率为100.00%,显著高于41例未获得RVR患者的25.6%（P<0.05）,76例获得EVR患者SVR发生率为94.7%,也显著高于32例未获得EVR患者的15.6%（P<0.05）;在血清HCV RNA≤4×10⁵ IU/ml被认为系低病毒载量组,HCV I型与非HCV I型感染者各病毒学应答率无显著性相差（P>0.05）,而在血清HCV RNA>4×10⁵ IU/ml被认为系高病毒载量组,39例非HCV I型感染者RVR、EVR、ETVR和SVR分别为71.8%、79.5%、87.2%和84.6%,均显著高于44例HCV I型感染者（分别为50.0%、59.1%、63.6%和74.4%,P<0.05）;治疗24周、48周和随访24周时,非HCV I型感染者生化学应答率分别为70.0%、80.0%和84.0%,显著高于HCV I型感染者的50.0%、60.3%和69.0%（P<0.05）。结论 聚乙二醇化干扰素-α联合利巴韦林治疗非HCV I型CHC患者效果较好,获得RVR和EVR的患者将获得SVR,应坚定治疗,而对HCV I型感染者、血清病毒载量较高和未获得RVR和EVR的患者,则应今早作出更改治疗方案的选择。     

兰州地区丙型肝炎病毒基因变异与干扰素α应答关系的探讨

目的探讨兰州地区丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）1b基因型5＇非编码区（5＇NCR）基因变异株的感染状态,及其与干扰素α疗效的关系。方法应用限制性内切酶酶切分析检测40例HCV 1b型中5＇-NCR基因变异及9例干扰素α治疗患者中的5＇-NCR基因变异。结果在40例HCV 1b型中存在5种感染状态：（1）有MboⅠ切点24/40（60.0%）;（2）无MboⅠ切点变异株5/40（12.5%）;（3）有MboⅠ和无MboⅠ切点混合感染株7/40（17.5%）;（4）有BamHⅠ切点变异株2/40（5%）;（5）有MboⅠ双切点变异株2/40（5%）。对9例干扰素α治疗的丙型肝炎患者血清进行5＇-NCR变异株检测。5例干扰素α应答病例中,2例为2a型,3例为无MboⅠ切点的1b型。4例抗干扰素α病例中,1例为2a型,但在某节段存在着1b与2a混合状态,另3例为无MboⅠ。结论在丙型肝炎患者血清中存在单一的MboⅠ切点的样品,24/40（60.0%）可能是HCV野生株感染的状态。     

我国丙型肝炎病毒基因1型与非基因1型的临床特征分析

目的初步明确我国HCV基因1型与非基因1型的基本临床特征。方法通过全国多中心、大样本的流行病学调查,经具备国际认证资质的第三方检测机构,采用国际通用的测序法进行病毒基因型分析,并进一步对HCV基因1型与非基因1型的临床特征进行了分析。结果共采集来自全国东西南北中的18个研究中心的764例患者血浆标本,男性384例,女性380例,平均年龄(44.9±14.3)岁,平均病程(7.7±7.3)年。通过临床特征分析发现,基因1型患者年龄分布偏大,病程较长;将横断面调查时患者的ALT水平进行比较,基因1型中有54.9%的患者ALT处于异常,非基因1型中有56.9%的患者ALT处于异常,两者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);将横断面调查时患者的身体质量指数(BMI)水平进行比较,基因1型中有39.6%的患者BMI异常,非基因1型中有31.6%的患者BMI异常,两者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);将感染途径分为输血感染与非输血感染,在输血感染患者中,66.1%的输血感染患者为基因1型,在非输血感染患者中,非基因1型占51.1%,两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论与非基因1型相比,慢性丙型肝炎基因1型患者年龄分布偏大,病程较长,多为输血感染。     

Association with 5'-untranslated region and response to interferon in chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a useful region for determinations of genotype and viral load. 5'UTR can be used for simultaneous analysis of HCV genotype and viral load, therefore several assays have been described. A method which used direct sequencing of the 5'UTR can also be used to identify mutations in this region. The objective of the present study was to evaluate possible associations of 5'UTR mutations with responsiveness to interferon (IFN) therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients. METHODOLOGY: Seventy patients with chronic hepatitis C were included in this study. The relations between responsiveness to IFN therapy and HCV genotype, viral load, and 5'UTR mutations before IFN treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: We detected HCV genotype 1a (n = 5), 1b (n = 32), 2a (n = 15), 2b (n = 12), and 3a (n = 6). Forty-eight patients were non-sustained responders (NR). Seven of 37 (18.9%) patients with the 1a or 1b genotype were sustained responders (SR), and 14 of 27 (51.9%) patients with genotype 2a or 2b were SR. Responses of patients with genotype 1 were poorer than those of patients with genotype 2. HCV viral loads of all SR patients infected with genotype la or 1b were less than 100 KIU/mL, but more than 50% of SR patients infected with genotype 2a or 2b had viral loads over 100 KIU/mL. Thus, viral load in patients with genotype 1 is strongly associated with IFN sensitivity. 5'UTR were well conserved, and there were no differences in the distribution of genotypes between SR and NR. CONCLUSIONS: The 5'UTR is a suitable region for determining HCV genotype and viral load, which are predictors of responsiveness to IFN therapy, but specific mutations of the 5'UTR do not appear to be associated with responsiveness to IFN.     

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C in Australia

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Australian patients with hepatitis C and to identify factors associated with particular genotypes. Serum isolates of HCV-RNA were genotyped using a commercial oligonucleotide hybridization (line probe) assay. Relationships between demographic factors, mode of HCV transmission and HCV genotype were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Among 463 patients with hepatitis C, 425 tested positive for HCV-RNA and a single HCV genotype was identified in 420 cases. The patients' places of birth were Australia or New Zealand (62%), Asia (13%), Europe (12%), Mediterranean (6%), Middle East (6%) and other countries (<1%). The most common genotypes were type 1 (52%) or type 3 (32%); type 2 (9.3%), type 4 (5.5%) and type 6 (1.7%) were less common. Patients with genotype 1b were older (48 ± 13 years, P < 0.001) and patients with genotype 3 were younger than the remaining patients (37 ± 11 years vs 42 ± 12 years, P < 0.001). Among type 1 isolates, 1b was more common for patients born outside Australia compared with those born in Australia (50%vs 13%, P < 0.001) whereas non-1b subtypes were more common among Australian-born patients. Likewise, 21 of 23 (91%) patients with type 4 were from Egypt and six of seven (86%) with type 6 were from Vietnam. The relative importance of parenteral risk factors for HCV also varied according to geographic origin. Thus, a definite risk factor for HCV acquisition was identified in > 95% of Australian-born patients, but in only 33% of Asian or Mediterranean-born patients. Logistic regression analysis indicated that region of birth and risk factor (intravenous drug use or not) would allow 98% of type 4 cases and 76% of type 1b cases to be identified correctly. In summary, region of birth, patterns of migration over time and risk factors for transmission of HCV interact to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in a multi-racial community like Australia.     

Does sequencing the PKRBD of hepatitis C virus NS5A predict therapeutic response to combination therapy in an Australian population?

Abstract Background and Aim: The presence of four or more amino acid substitutions within the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b NS5A gene determines sensitivity to interferon (IFN) monotherapy in Japanese patients. Resistance of HCV genotype 1 to IFN-alpha has been attributed to the functional inhibition of a RNA dependent protein kinase (PKR) by the HCV NS5A PKR binding domain (PKRBD), which includes the ISDR. The ability of the ISDR and PKRBD sequence to predict a response to IFN-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy was investigated in an Australian population. Methods: The sequence of the PKRBD of NS5A, including the ISDR, for the dominant quasi-species of HCV was determined in 37 genotype 1 (genotype 1a: n = 26, genotype 1b: n = 11) and 13 genotype 3a infected patients. Results: The number of PKRBD amino acid substitutions in HCV genotype 1 infected patients with a sustained virological response was significantly higher than that in patients with a non-response to treatment (P = 0.047). It was found that only 2/37 HCV genotype 1 infected patients had four or more amino acid substitutions relative to the prototype ISDR sequence (HCV-J). Importantly, a sustained virological response was not found in any of the HCV infected patients who had a prototype ISDR genotype 1 sequence (n = 5). Conclusions: There are relatively few amino acid mutations within the ISDR of this Western Australian patient population. Patients infected with a HCV genotype 1 prototype sequence should be counseled before receiving combination IFN-alpha and ribavirin therapy as they have a poor response to treatment.     

Hepatitis C virus infection and genotypes in Japanese hemophiliacs

Abstract: Liver function and antibodies to hepatitis C virus and to human immunodeficiency virus-1 were examined in 195 Japanese patients with hemophilia. One hundred and seventy-three were positive for antibody to HCV and 61 for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus-1. In 63 patients, we examined HCV genotypes according to the double polymerase chain reaction method. Forty cases (63%) were infected with hepatitis C virus with a single genotype, including type 1a in five, type 1b in 21, type 2a in seven and type 2b in seven; 16 (25%) were infected with double genotypes, including types 1a+1b in 14, types 1b+2a in one and types 1b+2b in one; and four (6%) were infected with triple genotypes, including types 1a+1b+2a in two and types 1a+1b+2b in two. Genotype could not be determined in three patients by this method. In the 191 non-hemophiliac patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV genotyping was as follows: type 1a in 0, type 1b in 121, type 2a in 40 and type 2b in 10 of 171 cases (89.5%) with single infection and types 1b+2a in five and types 2a+2b in one of six (5.5%) with double infection. In the remaining 14 patients, genotype could not be determined. Frequent transfusion of domestic and/or imported coagulation factor concentrates probably caused the high incidence of HCV infection with rare or mixed genotypes in Japanese hemophiliacs.     

Hepatitis C virus genotype 5: epidemiological characteristics and sensitivity to combination therapy with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin

Twenty-six patients living in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France who were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 5 were investigated. Most of these patients were of advanced age and had been infected nosocomially or by blood transfusion. Our case-control study, in which we treated patients with interferon- alpha plus ribavirin, indicated that, 24 weeks after the beginning of treatment, the virus response in patients infected with HCV genotype 5 was better than that in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (100% of patients negative for detectable HCV RNA vs. 36.3%, respectively; P < .01); furthermore, 48 weeks after the end of treatment, the virus response in patients infected with HCV genotype 5 was better than that in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (63.6% vs. 22.7%, respectively; P < .05) and was similar to that in patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3 (66.6%). These results show that HCV genotype 5 might have good intrinsic sensitivity to combination therapy with interferon- alpha plus ribavirin.     

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in Western Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to determine the recent distribution of various genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic HCV infection in Western Turkey. Additional objectives were to determine whether there are any associations of genotype with gender and age, and to determine the nucleotide similarities and risk factors of non-1 HCV genotypes. METHODS: Serum samples from 345 patients (176 male, 169 female; mean age 53.3+/-12.7 years, range 10-81 years) with chronic HCV infection were analyzed in this study. Viral genotypes were determined by a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based in-house assay. To confirm genotypes for the samples with band patterns other than genotype 1, the 5' UTR was amplified and sequenced. RESULTS: Genotype 1 was observed in 335 of the 345 patients (97.1%). Of these, 34 patients showed infection with subtype 1a (9.9%) and 301 with subtype 1b (87.2%). Genotypes 2, 3, and 4 were determined in 0.9%, 1.4%, and 0.6% of the patients, respectively. Patients infected with type 1 were significantly older than patients infected with non-1 genotypes; however no significant differences were recorded in gender distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Genotypes other than genotype 1 are quite rare; these are possibly acquired in other countries. Turkish patients with chronic hepatitis C still represent a rather homogenous group with genotypic diversity encountered rarely.