Distribution of HCV Genotypes in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: A Three-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Hepacivirus in the Flaviviridae family. It has eight known genotypes and 93 subtypes. HCV can be transmitted through various routes, including blood transfusion, surgical procedures, sexual contact, and intravenous drug use, leading to both acute and chronic hepatitis. Genotype (GT) determination and viral load assessment are essential for selecting an appropriate antiviral treatment regimen and duration, and for monitoring treatment efficacy. We aimed to ascertain the genotype distribution over a three-year period. Methods: In this study, patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection and followed at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Practice and Research Hospital between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023, were retrospectively evaluated for their age, gender, and HCV genotype data. Results: A total of 91 patients’ HCV genotype data were included in the study. The study revealed that 95.6% of the patients were Turkish citizens, while 4.4% were of foreign nationality. Among the 91 patients, 60 (65.9%) were found to have genotype 1b, 12 (13.2%) had genotype 1a, 10 (11%) had genotype 3, 6 (6.6%) had genotype 4, 2 (2.2%) had genotype 2, and one patient (1.1%) had a co-infection of genotypes 3 and 4. Conclusion: Genotype 1b was dominant in our region. Identifying HCV genotypes is important in guiding the prognosis and treatment of chronic HCV infections and monitoring the epidemiologic changes. This information will be of great value in the health policy that targets HCV and in elimination efforts.

Keywords

• Hepatitis C virus
• HCV genotype
• HCV viral load

Kronik Hepatit C Enfeksiyonu Olan Hastaların HCV Genotiplerinin Dağılımı: Üç Yıllık Tek Merkezli Retrospektif Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Hepatit C virüsü (HCV), Flaviviridae ailesindeki Hepacivirus cinsine ait tek sarmallı, pozitif anlamlı bir RNA virüsüdür. Bilinen sekiz genotipi ve 93 alt tipi vardır. HCV kan transfüzyonu, cerrahi prosedürler, cinsel temas ve damar içi uyuşturucu kullanımı gibi çeşitli yollarla bulaşabilir ve hem akut hem de kronik hepatite yol açabilir. Genotip (GT) belirleme ve viral yük değerlendirmesi, uygun bir antiviral tedavi rejimi ve süresinin seçilmesi ve tedavi etkinliğinin izlenmesi için esastır. Üç yıllık bir dönem boyunca genotip dağılımını tespit etmeyi amaçladık. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, Afyonkarahisar Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Hastanesi'nde 1 Temmuz 2020 ile 30 Haziran 2023 tarihleri arasında kronik HCV enfeksiyonu tanısı alan ve takip edilen hastalar yaş, cinsiyet ve HCV genotip verileri açısından retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Toplam 91 hastanın HCV genotip verileri çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Çalışma, hastaların %95,6'sının Türk vatandaşı olduğunu, %4,4'ünün ise yabancı uyruklu olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. 91 hastanın 60'ında (%65,9) genotip 1b, 12'sinde (%13,2) genotip 1a, 10'unda (%11) genotip 3, 6'sında (%6,6) genotip 4, 2'sinde (%2,2) genotip 2 ve bir hastada (%1,1) genotip 3 ve 4 ko-enfeksiyonu olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Bölgemizde genotip 1b baskın genotip olarak saptandı. HCV genotiplerinin belirlenmesi, kronik HCV enfeksiyonlarının prognoz ve tedavisinin yönlendirilmesinde ve epidemiyolojik değişikliklerin izlenmesinde önemlidir. Bu bilgiler HCV'yi hedef alan sağlık politikalarında ve eliminasyon çalışmalarında büyük değer taşıyacaktır.

Keywords

• Hepatit C virüs
• HCV genotip
• HCV viral yük

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