The influence of age on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus subtypes 1a and 1b.
The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes was determined in isolates of 447 chronically HCV-infected German patients by nucleotide sequencing. Of these, 206 (46.1%) were infected with the subtype 1a, 215 (48.1%) with subtype 1b, 2 (0.4%) with subtype 1c, 9 (2.0%) with subtype 3a, and 15 (3.4%) with subtype 4a. Subtype 1a was predominant in those < 40 years old (62.6%) and was associated with the risk factor of intravenous drug addiction and with shorter duration of disease. Conversely, subtype 1b was more frequent in patients > 50 years old (84.7%; P < .001) and was associated with the risk factor of blood transfusions and with longer duration of disease. These data suggest that a shift from subtype 1b to subtype 1a occurred in the population studied. An increase in HCV infection with subtype 1a and a diminution of subtype 1b in the future can be expected.
Feucht
H H
HH
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Universitatskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Schröter
M
M
Zöllner
B
B
Polywka
S
S
Nolte
H
H
Laufs
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral