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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Current status of hepatitis C virus infection in Korea
Dong Jin Suh1, Sook-Hyang Jeong
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is emerging as a significant cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, particularly as hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is successful. Further research is needed to understand HCV
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Viral Hepatitis
- Oncology
Background:
- Chronic liver disease, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a leading cause of mortality in Korea.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects approximately 5% and hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 1% of the Korean population.
- HCV genotypes 1b and 2a are most prevalent in Korea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of HCV as an emerging etiology of chronic liver disease and HCC in Korea.
- To compare the characteristics of HCV-related HCC with HBV-related HCC.
- To highlight the need for further research on HCV in Korea.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on HCV and HBV prevalence in Korea.
- Analysis of sustained virological response rates to antiviral therapies for HCV.
- Comparison of HCC incidence, patient demographics, and liver disease severity between HCV and HBV cohorts.
Main Results:
- Sustained virological response rates to antiviral therapies for HCV range from 38-59%.
- HCV accounts for approximately 12% of HCC cases, while HBV accounts for 68%.
- HCV-related HCC patients are diagnosed approximately 10 years older and present with more advanced liver cirrhosis compared to HBV-related HCC patients.
Conclusions:
- HCV infection is an increasingly important cause of chronic liver disease and HCC in Korea, especially following successful HBV vaccination programs.
- HBV coinfection may elevate the risk of HCC in individuals with chronic HCV infection.
- Detailed, large-scale studies are warranted to further elucidate the impact of HCV in Korea.
Abstract:
Chronic liver disease, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been a major cause of mortality in Korea. The prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the general population of Korea are approximately 1 and 5%, respectively. The most common genotypes of HCV in Korea are 1b and 2a. The sustained virological response rates after antiviral therapies, including combined interferon-alpha and ribavirin, have been reported to be 38-59%. The annual incidence of HCC among HCV-related liver cirrhosis has been estimated at 5%, and approximately 12% of HCC is attributable to HCV and 68% to HBV in Korea. The mean age of patients with HCV-related HCC at the time of diagnosis was consistently 10 years older than that of patients with HBV-related HCC. Moreover, HCV-related HCC was accompanied by more advanced liver cirrhosis than HBV-related HCC. Coinfection with HBV seemed to increase the risk of developing HCC in chronic HCV infection. After the successful program of hepatitis B vaccination, HCV infection is now emerging as an important etiology of chronic liver disease in Korea, which warrants more detailed and large-scale studies.
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