Hepatitis C infection in African Americans: its natural history and histological progression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine the natural history of hepatitis C virus infection in African Americans versus non-African Americans by evaluating the clinical, virological, and histological findings.


METHODS
We examined in a retrospective manner the demographics, mode of infection, virological features, and histological progression of HCV infection in African Americans versus non-African Americans. There were 355 patients who met criteria based on adequate liver biopsy specimens and exclusion of other hepatic diseases.


RESULTS
African Americans (n = 112) were significantly more likely to be infected with genotype 1 virus (88%) than were non-African Americans (n = 243; 67%; p < or = 0.001). Baseline HCV RNA levels were similar, although baseline ALT values were significantly lower in African Americans (80.0 microl +/- 5.5 vs 112.1 microl +/- 6.2; p < or = 0.001). African Americans were significantly older at the time of presentation and were significantly more likely to be women (p < or = 0.02). In African Americans, there was a trend toward less cirrhosis (22% vs 30%; p < or = 0.1) and significantly less piecemeal necrosis on liver biopsy. Non-African Americans had significantly higher fibrosis scores, ALT values, and piecemeal necrosis ratings, and tended to progress more rapidly to cirrhosis. This difference in histological progression between the two groups was not explained by differences in alcohol consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower ALT, piecemeal necrosis scores, and slower progression of fibrosis in African Americans may reflect less immunological recognition of HCV-infected liver cells.
Wiley
Thelma E
TE
Department of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Brown
Jennifer
J
Chan
Juliana
J
D001741:Black or African American; D018450:Disease Progression; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors