title: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus types in patients of the same geographic area, according to the source of infection and liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The duration and stage of hepatitis C might be associated with the source of infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) types.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the relationship among the different HCV types, source, duration, and stage of infection in 100 patients from the Apulia, southern Italy, selected from consecutive clinical records. They were 20 parenterally infected haemophiliacs with 10-20 years of disease history, but without cirrhosis; 20 patients (matched for sex, age and disease) and without known risk factor for parenteral infections; 60 patients with community acquired infection (ten with CAH and ten with cirrhosis with less than 20 years disease history; 20 with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and more than 20 years of liver disease and 20 matched cases with cirrhosis without HCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type 1 and 2 HCVs had comparable prevalence in patients with long lasting and recent HCV infection, 56 and 64%, 26 and 30% respectively. HCV type 3 was found in 6.5-12% of the patients with recent HCV infection, but it was not detected in those with infection longer than 20 years. Type 1 b HCV was more frequently found in HCC patients (68% of cases) than in the other forms of liver disease. The opposite was observed for HCV types (2 and 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the different HCV types appears associated with the source and duration of the infection. The interesting association between HCV type 1 b and HCC prompts further studies in larger series of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Molinette Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Giovanni, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Randone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flichman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombatto
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Scaraggi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonino
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brunetto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors