title: Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Belgian hemophiliacs.
abstract: Hemophiliacs who have been exposed to unheated and/or dry heated pooled clotting factor concentrates are at a high risk of chronic hepatitis C. Serum HCV-RNA was measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique in 58 hemophiliacs positive for anti-HCV antibodies, HCV-RNA was detected in 55 patients. Based on the results of PCR positivity, HCV genotyping was carried out using genotype specific probes and the dot blot hybridization assay: 2 patients were found to be infected with type 1a (3.6%), 31 patients with type 1b (56.4%), 8 patients with type 2 (14.6%), 6 patients with type 3 (10.9%), 1 patient with type 4, and 7 patients with double infection (12.7%). As compared to a control group of 105 nonhemophilia patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV genotype 1b was found predominant in both groups. However, double infection with two HCV types as well as a relatively high prevalence of infection with type 2 and type 3 were found in hemophiliacs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver and Pancreatic Diseases, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peerlinck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermylen
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yap
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D001530:Belgium; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral