HCV INFECTED PATIENTS

ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR GENOTYPES AND SUBTYPES OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of different hepatitis C virus (HCV)
major genotypes and subtypes in HCV infected patients. Design: A cohort prospective study. Place and Duration:
At Shalamar Hospital Lahore, From Dec 2002 to Dec 2005. Patients and methods: 1652 patients, 697 females and
955 males infected with hepatitis C virus confirmed by ELISA were included in the present study for the analysis of HCV
genotypes. Infection was reconfirmed by HCV RNA detection with qualitative PCR. Gentyping was done with multiplex
PCR using type specific primers. Results: Among 1652 genotyping was done with multiplex 3 was seen most common
1220 (73.85%). Second and third common genotypes were 2 and 1 , 154 (9.33%) and 80 (4.84%) respectively followed
by genotype 4 which was 41 (2.84%). In this study 106 (6.42%) cases remained unclassified and mentioned as
untypable. In 51(3.09%) cases more than one genotype was seen which reported as mixed genotypes. Conclusion:
Patients with chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection in this part of Pakistan had predominantly HCV
genotype 3 but the presence of genotype 1 and 4 could not be excluded. So before therapy genotyping must be taken
under consideration.