Do different hepatitis C virus genotypes behave differently?
BACKGROUND
The natural history of hepatitis C genotype III infection, the predominant form in India, is not wholly understood. This study attempted to compare the natural history of diseases due to genotypes III and I.


METHODS
This 10-year prospective follow-up study (mean follow-up period = 3.6 +/- 1.4, range = 1-10 years) included 108 patients of hepatitis C. Group 1 comprised 65 patients with hepatitis C genotype III infection (mean age = 46.1 +/- 11.3 years, male: female = 1.8 : 1) and group 2 comprised 43 patients with hepatitis C genotype I infection (mean age = 44.2 +/- 8.2 years, male: female = 2.1 : 1). Demographic features, clinical presentation and course, response to treatment (either interferon-ribavirin or peginterferon-ribavirin combination) and complications were noted for all patients. Data were analysed using the chi-square test and Student's t-test.


RESULTS
The number of steatosis cases was larger in group 1 (32.3%, 21/65 patients) than in group 2 (18.6%, 8/43 patients) although statistically not significant. There was no significant difference in the mode of infection, presence of diabetes, obesity or alcoholism, clinical presentation, extra-hepatic manifestations, stage of liver disease, complications like decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality. Overall, the sustained treatment response was significantly greater in group 1 patients [(87.5%, 21/24 treated patients vs. 56.2%, 9/16 treated patients in group 2; p = 0.0001)].


CONCLUSIONS
HCV with genotype III was associated with better treatment response. Although statistically not significant, more number of patients in genotype III had steatosis.
Amarapurkar
Deepak N
DN
Department of Gastroenterology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai. amarapurkar@gmail.com
Patel
Nikhil D
ND
Rane
Priyamvada
P
Kamani
Praful
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents