BACKGROUND: Changes in the prevalence of distinct hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and subtypes over time have not been explored in detail. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out in all specimens from subjects with chronic hepatitis C sent for testing to a reference laboratory in Spain since 1998-2004. RESULTS: A total of 1226 distinct subjects were analyzed. The most frequent HCV genotype was 1 (64.1%), followed by 3 (20.9%) and 4 (11.7%). The most frequent HCV subtype was 1b (32.4%). A total of 797 patients (65%) were HIV-positive. Although genotype 1 was the most frequent, it represented 74.6% of HIV-negative and 58.5% of HIV-positive patients (p<0.01). While HCV subtype 1a was the most frequent among HIV-positive subjects (32.1%), 1b was the most common in HIV-negative patients (53.8%). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of genotype 4 and conversely a decline in genotype 3 among HIV-positive patients over time. CONCLUSION: Genotype 1 is the most frequent HCV variant circulating in Spain. Genotypes 3 and 4 are significantly more prevalent in HIV/HCV-coinfected than in HCV-monoinfected patients. However, HCV-3 has declined and HCV-4 is increasing in the former group. These findings are relevant given their different susceptibility to interferon-based therapies.
BACKGROUND: Changes in the prevalence of distinct hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and subtypes over time have not been explored in detail. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out in all specimens from subjects with chronic hepatitis C sent for testing to a reference laboratory in Spain since 1998-2004. RESULTS: A total of 1226 distinct subjects were analyzed. The most frequent HCV genotype was 1 (64.1%), followed by 3 (20.9%) and 4 (11.7%). The most frequent HCV subtype was 1b (32.4%). A total of 797 patients (65%) were HIV-positive. Although genotype 1 was the most frequent, it represented 74.6% of HIV-negative and 58.5% of HIV-positivepatients (p<0.01). While HCV subtype 1a was the most frequent among HIV-positive subjects (32.1%), 1b was the most common in HIV-negative patients (53.8%). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of genotype 4 and conversely a decline in genotype 3 among HIV-positivepatients over time. CONCLUSION: Genotype 1 is the most frequent HCV variant circulating in Spain. Genotypes 3 and 4 are significantly more prevalent in HIV/HCV-coinfected than in HCV-monoinfected patients. However, HCV-3 has declined and HCV-4 is increasing in the former group. These findings are relevant given their different susceptibility to interferon-based therapies.
Authors: Vicente Carreño; Javier Bartolomé; Inmaculada Castillo; Juan Antonio Quiroga Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2012-06-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: S Butt; M Idrees; M Shahid; I Amin; S Younas; S Afzal; H Akbar; I Ur Rehman Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2011-01-06 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Fernando H Wolff; Sandra C Fuchs; Nêmora N T Barcellos; Paulo Ricardo de Alencastro; Maria Letícia R Ikeda; Ajácio B M Brandão; Maicon Falavigna; Flávio D Fuchs Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Bushra Ijaz; Waqar Ahmad; Fouzia T Javed; Sana Gull; Muhammad T Sarwar; Humera Kausar; Sultan Asad; Shah Jahan; Saba Khaliq; Imran Shahid; Aleena Sumrin; Sajida Hassan Journal: Virol J Date: 2011-07-21 Impact factor: 4.099