Most common HCV genotypes in patients from north-eastern Croatia

Abstract

Objective. e aims of this study were to determine the HCV-RNA viral load, genotype distribution, risk factors and symptoms of HCV-RNA positive viral load in HCV antibody-positive patients from north-eastern Croatia. Materials and methods. From January 2009 to December 2011, 203 HCV antibody-positive patients (130 men and 73 women; median age 44.5 years) were analyzed for HCV-RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test and genotyped by the Linear Array HCV Genotyping test (both from Roche). All patients completed a structured questionnaire about risk factors and symptoms. Results.e HCV-RNA percentage was 61.1% and was similar for men and women. e HCV-RNA viral load increased with age: while 55% of 20-50 year old patients were HCV-RNA positive, 73% of patients >50 years were positive (p=0.021). Genotype 1 was the most prevalent genotype (79.8%), followed by 3 (12.9%), 4 (6.5%), and 2 (0.8%); genotypes 5 and 6 were not determined. Patients with genotype 1 (median, 50 years) were older than patients with 3 (median, 33.5 years) or 4 (median, 38 years). e blood transfusions performed in Croatian hospitals before 1993 was signi cantly associated with HCV-RNA positive viral load (p<0.05). Conclusion.ese data indicated an elevated prevalence of genotype 1 in elderly HCV-RNA positive patients and it may continue to rise. Using RNA-based detection in HCV positive-antibody patients would allow early detection of HCV in the acute stage of HCV disease and the increased risk of HCV genotyperelated treatment failure.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in Mazandaran Province, Iran

“…Hepatitis C virus-RNA increased in older patients compared with their younger counterparts, whereas there was no significant difference between men and women; RNA percentage was found to be 6.1% in both groups (28), which is incompatible with our findings. In addition, according to a previous study in Iran, the prevalence of HCV infection in men was higher than women (44).…”

“…In former study, the serological findings were different from the results of the molecular assay (28,29). Also, in a previous study performed in Iran, 93 (74%) out of 126 anti-HCV-positive patients were positive on the molecular assay (30).…”

The present and future disease burden of hepatitis C virus infections with today's treatment paradigm: Volume 4

“…This was calculated according to expert input which held that 41% of the estimated 15 440 IDU in 2007 are anti‐HCV positive, with 4430 chronically infected. In 2011, an estimated 38.7% of the HCV‐infected population was infected through transfusion …”