Ethnic differences in the presentation of chronic hepatitis C

Hispanics comprise 13% of the population in the United States and are the fastest growing minority group. Features of hepatitis C in Hispanics have not been well characterized. The aims of this study were to compare features of hepatitis C among Hispanics, Whites, and African-Americans and to characterize hepatitis C infection in Hispanics. A retrospective analysis was performed on 1225 consecutive patients with hepatitis C seen at the University of Illinois at Chicago including 227 Hispanics, 508 Whites, and 490 African-Americans. Data collection consisted of demographic variables, risk factors for hepatitis C, history of alcohol use, laboratory parameters and liver histology. Pair-wise comparisons showed that Hispanics had higher aminotransferase levels than Whites and African-Americans. Hispanics had higher portal inflammation scores on liver biopsy than African-Americans (P = 0.002) and Whites (P = 0.043). Hispanics had a higher frequency of cirrhosis than African-Americans (P < 0.001) and a trend towards more cirrhosis than Whites (P = 0.165). There was a trend towards a higher prevalence of cirrhosis in Hispanic women (56%) than in Hispanic men (45%) [P = 0.14]. A cross-sectional analysis of patients at our liver center showed that Hispanics with hepatitis C had higher aminotransferase levels, more portal inflammation than Whites and African-Americans, and a higher prevalence of cirrhosis than African-Americans.