[Determination of the type and subtype of the hepatitis C virus in chronic viral hepatitis patients in Hungary].
The huge variability of hepatitis virus C is well-established. The geographical differences in its nucleotide sequence have important clinical significance by causing variant pathogenicities and affecting sensitivity to therapy. The authors pioneered the determination of the viral type and subtype in patients suffering from chronic viral hepatitis in Hungary. In this present work they report the applied methods and the results. In their virus serological laboratory was introduced the test "HCV Serotyping 1-6 Assay", which is based on the analysis of antibodies, in 1996. By this method they examined the samples of 127 patients and they found type 1 in 75.5%, type 4 in 25%, mixed types (type 1 + 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) in 9% and non-classifiable, non-reacting antibodies in 13% of the cases. Since 1999 they have used the combination of direct reverse-PCR of the viral antigen and reverse hybridization to type-specific specimens. These results, from 211 patients show that 6% belong to 1a, 85.5% to 1b, 3% to 1a + 1b, 1% to 1b + 2, 0.5% to 3 and 4% to mixed subtypes. Genotype 1b was associated with higher viremia. On the basis of the above they can conclude that 90% of the Hungarian population are infected by the most resistant 1b subtype of hepatitis virus C. It could explain the fact that only 20% of their patients with interferon monotherapy have become permanently virus-free. In view of these results they recommend combined, higher dose, long-lasting treatment in therapeutic protocols.
Gervain
J
J
I. Belgyógyászat, Hepato-Pancreatologiai Részleg, Fejér Megyei Szent György Kórház, Székesfehérvár.
Simon
G
G
Papp
I
I
Szabóné
B K
BK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007372:Interferons