title: Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among intravenous drug users in the Çukurova region of Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype in Turkey is genotype 1. However, there has not been a study about the distribution of HCV genotypes among intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in the Çukurova region of Turkey. This study was planned to understand if there is a difference between IVDUs and the normal population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2010 and May 2014, anti-HCV positive IVDUs who applied to the 6 hospitals in the Çukurova region of Turkey were included in this study. Their HCV genotypes were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven anti-HCV positive IVDUs were screened in terms of HCV RNA and genotype. Ten were excluded from the study because their HCV RNA results were negative. Fifty-one of the 87 patients (58.6%) had genotype 3. Genotype 2 was detected in 26 (29.9%) and genotype 1 was detected in 10 (11.5%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV genotypes seem to be different between the normal population and IVDUs according to studies worldwide. Among IVDUs, we detected a dominance of genotype 3 and genotype 2, which is apparently different from the normal population. The reason for this difference can be simply explained by infection through shared needles. However, there may still be a different immunological response in IVDUs, the investigation of which may lead to further studies.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Enver
authors: E
authors: Üçbilek
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Çukurova Dr. Aşkım Tüfekçi State Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Bahri
authors: B
authors: Abayli
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Mahmut Bakır
authors: MB
authors: Koyuncu
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Adana State Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Durdane
authors: D
authors: Midikli
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Ekrem Tok Psychiatry Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Süveyda
authors: S
authors: Gözüküçük
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Ceyhan State Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Akdağ
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Tarsus State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Özdoğan
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Engin
authors: E
authors: Altintaş
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Orhan
authors: O
authors: Sezgin
mesh_terms: D055030:Drug Users; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: HCV genotypes; Hepatitis C; intravenous drug users