Most common HCV genotypes in patients from north-eastern Croatia

Authors

  • Magdalena Perić Institute of Public Health Osijek
  • Zinka Bošnjak Institute of Public Health Osijek
  • Snježana Džijan Faculty of Medicine Osijek
  • Bojan Šarkanj Faculty of Food Technology
  • Jerko Barbić Faculty of Medicine Osijek
  • Ivana Roksandić Križan Institute of Public Health Osijek
  • Nataša Ružman Institute of Public Health Osijek
  • Vedran Bertić Institute of Public Health Osijek
  • Dubravka Vuković Institute of Public Health Osijek

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.95

Keywords:

HCV-RNA, HCV genotypes, HCV antibody-positive, Risk factors

Abstract

Objective. The aims of this study were to determine the HCV-RNA viral load, genotype distribution, risk factors and symptoms of HCVRNA positive viral load in HCV antibody-positive patients from north-eastern Croatia. Materials and methods. From January 2009 to December 2011, 203 HCV antibody- positive patients (130 men and 73 women; median age 44.5 years) were analyzed for HCV-RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test and genotyped by the Linear Array HCV Genotyping test (both from Roche). All patients completed a structured questionnaire about risk factors and symptoms. Results. The HCV-RNA percentage was 61.1% and was similar for men and women. The HCV-RNA viral load increased with age: while 55% of 20-50 year old patients were HCV-RNA positive, 73% of patients >50 years were positive (p=0.021). Genotype 1 was the most prevalent genotype (79.8%), followed by 3 (12.9%), 4 (6.5%), and 2 (0.8%); genotypes 5 and 6 were not determined. Patients with genotype 1 (median, 50 years) were older than patients with 3 (median, 33.5 years) or 4 (median, 38 years). The blood transfusions performed in Croatian hospitals before 1993 was significantly associated with HCV-RNA positive viral load (p<0.05). Conclusion. These data indicated an elevated prevalence of genotype 1 in elderly HCV-RNA positive patients and it may continue to rise. Using RNA-based detection in HCV positive-antibody patients would allow early detection of HCV in the acute stage of HCV disease and the increased risk of HCV genotyperelated treatment failure.

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Published

2014-05-11

How to Cite

Perić, M., Bošnjak, Z., Džijan, S., Šarkanj, B., Barbić, J., Roksandić Križan, I., Ružman, N., Bertić, V., & Vuković, D. (2014). Most common HCV genotypes in patients from north-eastern Croatia. Acta Medica Academica, 43(1). https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.95

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Original Article

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