Hepatitis C genotypes: current trends and future implications.
OBJECTIVE
To review the geographic distribution and current understanding of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in regard to liver disease activity and response to treatment.


METHODS
We review the relevant medical literature and discuss our recent findings relative to chronic HCV infection and the importance of HCV genotypes.


RESULTS
HCV genotypes 1a and 1b are the most commonly found genotypes in patients with chronic HCV in the United States. Infection with HCV genotype 1b may be associated with more severe liver disease and may have a higher risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV genotype 2b seemed to be the most sensitive and HCV genotype 1b was the least sensitive to interferon therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of the infectious HCV genotype may be beneficial in clinical settings and may assist in the selection of patients who would benefit from interferon treatment.
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Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Persing
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D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology