title: Most common HCV genotypes in patients from north-eastern Croatia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to determine the HCV-RNA viral load, genotype distribution, risk factors and symptoms of HCVRNA positive viral load in HCV antibody-positive patients from north-eastern Croatia.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to December 2011, 203 HCV antibody- positive patients (130 men and 73 women; median age 44.5 years) were analyzed for HCV-RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test and genotyped by the Linear Array HCV Genotyping test (both from Roche). All patients completed a structured questionnaire about risk factors and symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HCV-RNA percentage was 61.1% and was similar for men and women. The HCV-RNA viral load increased with age: while 55% of 20-50 year old patients were HCV-RNA positive, 73% of patients >50 years were positive (p=0.021). Genotype 1 was the most prevalent genotype (79.8%), followed by 3 (12.9%), 4 (6.5%), and 2 (0.8%); genotypes 5 and 6 were not determined. Patients with genotype 1 (median, 50 years) were older than patients with 3 (median, 33.5 years) or 4 (median, 38 years). The blood transfusions performed in Croatian hospitals before 1993 was significantly associated with HCV-RNA positive viral load (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicated an elevated prevalence of genotype 1 in elderly HCV-RNA positive patients and it may continue to rise. Using RNA-based detection in HCV positive-antibody patients would allow early detection of HCV in the acute stage of HCV disease and the increased risk of HCV genotyperelated treatment failure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health Osijek, F. Krežme 1, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia. zinkahr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perić
authors.forename: Zinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bošnjak
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Snježana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Džijan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Food Technology, Croatia.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Šarkanj
authors.forename: Jerko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roksandić Križan
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ružman
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertić
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vuković
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D019562:Viral Load / Q000235:genetics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral