HCV genotype 4 in Belgium: three distinct patterns among patients from European and African origin

Abstract

Three different patterns of genotype 4 carriers were observed, corresponding to three different spreading profiles. They did not induce, however, different clinical management.

Emergence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4: Phylogenetic Analysis Reveals Three Distinct Epidemiological Profiles

“…Since infections with HCV-4 are difficult to treat and cause an estimated 10% of chronic HCV infections in The Netherlands (5,32), effective therapy against HCV-4 will increasingly be needed. The need is heightened as HCV-4d rapidly spreads among HIV-positive MSM and becomes more prevalent in European individuals reporting IDU with and without HIV coinfection.…”

“…In Egypt, the country with the highest prevalence of HCV in the world, more than 90% of patients are infected with . HCV-4 is considered difficult to treat and has a sustained virological response rate of approximately 60% (28), where the rates are 40 to 50% for genotype 1 and 80 to 90% for genotypes 2 and 3 (17).Recent studies emphasize that the prevalence of HCV-4 in Europe has increased in the past few decades due to the immigration of HCV carriers and the subsequent spread of HCV-4 in European populations at risk for HCV infection (2,5,16,24,25,30). In southern Europe, HCV-4 is responsible for 10 to 24% of chronic HCV infections.…”

“…Recent studies emphasize that the prevalence of HCV-4 in Europe has increased in the past few decades due to the immigration of HCV carriers and the subsequent spread of HCV-4 in European populations at risk for HCV infection (2,5,16,24,25,30). In southern Europe, HCV-4 is responsible for 10 to 24% of chronic HCV infections.…”

Hepatitis crónica por virus de la hepatitis C genotipo 4

“…En Europa el patró n epidemioló gico de la infecció n por el VHC-4 parece distinto, aunque se está n comunicando incrementos de las infecciones por el VHC-4 en ciertas á reas, como la cuenca mediterrá nea 14,22,[34][35][36][37][38] . Así, se podrían definir 2 grupos: uno formado por inmigrantes de zonas endé micas, tales como Á frica 22 , y otro formado por pacientes usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral (UDVP) y pacientes coinfectados por el VIH 4,10,23,34,36,39 .…”

“…Así, se podrían definir 2 grupos: uno formado por inmigrantes de zonas endé micas, tales como Á frica 22 , y otro formado por pacientes usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral (UDVP) y pacientes coinfectados por el VIH 4,10,23,34,36,39 . En cuanto a los países norteamericanos y asiá ticos, la prevalencia de infecció n por este genotipo es escasa, alrededor del 1%, siguiendo un patró n epidemioló gico similar al europeo 7 .…”