title: The prevalence of mixed genotype infections in Polish patients with hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype has been described as an independent predictor of the response to therapy. A mixed infection with two types of HCV is probably an uncommon event. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of mixed infection with two different HCV genotypes in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C eligible for treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples and clinical and demographic data were collected from 1159 patients with hepatitis C. The INNO-LiPA HCV assay was used to identify the HCV genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dominant genotype was genotype 1, which was found to be responsible for 83.9% of infections, with subtype 1b being the most common. A mixed genotype infection was detected in 26 patients (2.2%). The most common mixed genotype was 1a+1b detected in 17/26 patients (65%). Antiviral therapy led to complete elimination of both genotypes in 50% of patients with 1b+3a infection and in 33% of patients with 1b+4a infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained showed that infection with mixed HCV genotypes in Polish patients with hepatitis C is uncommon. The selective elimination of genotypes 3a and 4a after therapy confirms the greater resistance to treatment of genotype 1b. In the context of new anti-HCV drug development, further investigations are needed to determine the clinical importance of mixed HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: ewego@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gowin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bereszyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamek
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Arleta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowala-Piaskowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mozer-Lisewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland; Department of Medical Diagnostics, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Hepatitis C; Mixed genotype