title: Detection and typing of hepatitis C RNA in liver biopsies and its relation to histopathology.
abstract: This paper describes the correlation of hepatitis C genotypes detected in liver tissue with histological grading (inflammatory activity) and staging (degree of fibrosis/cirrhosis). The viral genotype was analysed by type-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and correlated with histology and age of patients. In 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection, genotypes 1a and 1b were detected in 13 (18.8%) and 31 (44.9%) liver biopsies, respectively. Genotypes 2a and 2b were each detected once (1.5%) and 12 (17.4%) tissue samples showed a mixed infection with two genotypes. In 11 (15.9%) biopsies, no genotype could be established. The liver specimens were grouped according to the presence or absence of genotype 1b: group A consisted of specimens infected with genotypes 1a, 2a, and 2b (n = 16), Group B contained biopsies infected with genotype 1b (n = 42), and group C were biopsies with no detectable genotype (n = 11). Activity (grade) of chronic hepatitis was not different in these three groups. However, advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis was observed in 16 (38.1%) biopsies in group B (containing genotype 1b), compared with none in group A (P = 0.01). The mean age of patients in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P = 0.038), and the mean age of patients with advanced fibrosis was higher than that of patients with low fibrosis scores within these two groups (P = 0.004). Stepwise logistic regression revealed an independent association of age and genotype 1b (group B) with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. These data indicate that patients infected with genotype 1b have an higher risk of developing cirrhosis than do patients with other genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, University of Basel, Switzerland Kantonsspital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cathomas
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McGandy
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral