A comparison of the spectrum of chronic hepatitis C virus between Caucasians and African Americans.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Differences in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease between Caucasians and African Americans remain controversial. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 302 consecutive inmates in the Virginia Department of Corrections evaluated for HCV between October 1998 and July 2002. All subjects were anti-HCV positive, HCV treatment naive, human immunodeficiency virus and HBV negative, and had compensated liver disease. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 41 years; they were 91% male and 51% Caucasian. The mean ALT level was 94 U/L, 49% had a normal ALT level, and 80% were genotype 1. The mean Knodell histologic activity index (HAI) was 7.03, with bridging fibrosis in 18% and cirrhosis in 6%. When analyzed by race, the mean ALT level (106 vs. 79 U/L; P = 0.01), proportion with normal ALT level (46% vs. 57%; P = 0.06), and proportion with genotype 1 (67% vs. 94%; P < 0.001) were different between Caucasians and African Americans, respectively. Although the HAI and proportion with bridging fibrosis/cirrhosis were similar between groups, African Americans had lower piecemeal necrosis (1.41 vs. 1.72; P = 0.034) and fibrosis (1.12 vs. 1.40; P = 0.047) scores compared to Caucasians. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, ALT, and race were significant independent variables associated with total HAI, piecemeal necrosis, and fibrosis scores. CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall spectrum of liver disease is similar, African Americans have less piecemeal necrosis and lower fibrosis scores independent of age and ALT compared with Caucasians.