Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Saudi Arabia.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes have been associated with specific geographical areas and in many cases with specific mode of transmission. In developed countries, genotype determination has formed a part of the management of patients with hepatitis C virus seropositivity and liver diseases due to hepatitis C virus. The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus has been shown to be changing rapidly in many countries due to population movement and different life-styles; hence the distribution of the genotypes is being monitored closely in many countries. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are only a handful of publications recording the hepatitis C virus genotypes in various population groups. These studies have been carried out mainly in Riyadh (Central province) and Jeddah (Western province). There are no studies emanating from the Eastern or Northern provinces. According to these studies, the most prevalent genotype in the Western Province and probably in the whole Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was genotype 4, followed by genotypes 1a and 1b. Genotypes 1, 2a,/2b, 3 and 6 are very rare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Genotype 5 was identified exclusively in the Western province and nowhere else. Genotypes 1b and 4 were associated with different histological grades of liver disease. Mixed infections with more than one genotype were observed in some studies. More detailed epidemiological studies of hepatitis C virus infections are needed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to gain more insight into a possible type/subtype-specific pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus in the different regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the distribution of the genotypes in the various localities.