title: Changing HCV genotypes distribution in Poland--relation to source and time of infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the distribution of HCV genotypes has implications for prognosis and therapy of hepatitis C.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the distribution of HCV genotypes in Poland in relation to route of transmission and year of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic liver disease were evaluated at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Bialystok (Poland). HCV genotype was determined by means of 5'UTR sequencing and comparison with known sequences of particular genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genotypes mostly frequently detected were genotype 1 (57.5%); genotype 3 (31.3%); and genotype 4 (8.4%). Genotype 1 constituted the majority of HCV infections caused by blood transfusion (68.8%) and only 34.8% of HCV infections in the intravenous drug use (IVDU) group (p<0.05). In contrast genotype 3 constituted the majority of HCV infections in the IVDU group (56.5%). We observed a significant increase in the proportion of genotype 3 infections detected after 2000--from 19.1% to 38.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative proportion of genotype 1b in Poland has decreased and that of genotype 3a has increased, especially among IVDU.
authors: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Mieszka I 4 B, 15-054 Białystok, Poland. schlabicz@poczta.onet.pl
authors: Slawomir
authors: S
authors: Chlabicz
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Flisiak
authors: Oksana
authors: O
authors: Kowalczuk
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Grzeszczuk
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Pytel-Krolczuk
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Prokopowicz
authors: Lech
authors: L
authors: Chyczewski
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral