Factors influencing natural history of chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of the study was to asses influence of selected epidemiologic and virusologic factors on the course of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Data obtained from 550 CHC patients was analyzed (F/M: 241/309; age: 14-87, average age: 44.9 +/- 15.6). HbsAg and HIV-positive, as well as patients taking drugs were excluded from the study. Progression of the liver disease was assessed by the maximal ALT activity, presence of clinical or histopathological symptoms of hepatic cirrhosis, and 363 liver biopsy results. Clinical and histological data was analyzed depending on: patients sex, age (= 40, and > 40 years old), portal of infection (history data on transfusion or another source of infection), history of HBV infection (presence or absence of anti-HBc antibodies), and HCV genotype (1b or no-1b group). HCV genotype was determined in 170 patients by the use of commercial InnoLipa kit (Innogenetics). Statistical analysis was based on t-Student test and chi-squared test with or without Yates correction. It was proved that in patients over 40 years old or with history of transfusion inflammatory activity and liver fibrosis activity are significantly higher than in the rest of patients. More advanced age, transfusion and history of HBV infection are risk factors for hepatic cirrhosis development in CHC patients. Neither patient's sex nor HCV genotype were found to have significant influence on the course of CHC.