title: Epidemiological features of patients infected with HCV genotype 4 in Poland: Epidemiology of HCV genotype 4 in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C genotype 4 (HCV-4) is considered to be rare outside northern Africa and southern Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients infected with HCV-4 in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 290 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and intravenous drug users with HCV infection recruited in years 2002-2006 in Podlaskie region, north-eastern Poland. In all cases, HCV infection was confirmed by HCV-RNA detection by qualitative nested RT-PCR. HCV genotype was determined by 5'UTR sequencing and comparison with known genotype-specific sequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV 4 was found in 45 (15.5%) of 290 HCV-infected and HCV RNA-positive individuals. 60% of HCV 4 infections occurred in intravenous drug users; 51% of HCV 4-infected patients were also HIV-positive. Among 119 patients whose source of infection was other than drug use, there were 16 (10.5%) HCV 4 cases. Seven (46%) of 13 HCV 4-positive and HIV-negative patients who received combined antiviral treatment had sustained viral response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV 4 exists in eastern Poland, and the infection is frequently related to intravenous drug use and accompanied by HIV infection. HCV 4 also causes a proportion of non-drug-related HCV infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flisiak
authors.forename: Tadeusz W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lapinski
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kowalczuk
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiercinska-Drapalo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pytel-Krolczuk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grzeszczuk
authors.forename: Lech
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chyczewski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pancewicz
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