title: Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 4: recommendations of an international expert panel.
abstract: HCV has been classified into no fewer than six major genotypes and a series of subtypes. Each HCV genotype is unique with respect to its nucleotide sequence, geographic distribution, and response to therapy. Genotypes 1, 2, and 3 are common throughout North America and Europe. HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) is common in the Middle East and in Africa, where it is responsible for more than 80% of HCV infections. It has recently spread to several European countries. HCV-4 is considered a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in these regions. Although HCV-4 is the cause of approximately 20% of the 170 million cases of chronic hepatitis C in the world, it has not been the subject of widespread research. Therefore, this document, drafted by a panel of international experts, aimed to review current knowledge on the epidemiology, natural history, clinical, histological features, and treatment of HCV-4 infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Minia, Egypt. mkhattabmed@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khattab
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferenci
authors.forename: Stephanos J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hadziyannis
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.forename: Piero L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Almasio
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Ayman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdo
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Nazir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cacoub
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslam
authors.forename: Samuel S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda