Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

To determine the distribution of HCV genotypes among the patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Dubai, UAE.

This was a descriptive study conducted from January 2009 to June 2009 in the Medical and Infectious Diseases clinics at Rashid Hospital Dubai. The study was designed to include patient's demographics, clinical information including the various risk factors for the transmission of HCV and laboratory data. The patients with positive screening test for HCV antibodies referred from the other clinics and peripheral health centers were included in the study. The HBV and HIV positive, as well as patients on haemodialysis and on immunosuppressive drugs were excluded from the study. The blood sample was collected and the confirmation of HCV was done by Western blot. The confirmed cases were subjected for HCV RNA levels and subsequently for HCV genotyping and sub-typing.

A total of 223 patients (124 UAE nationals and 99 expatriates) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 38.3 +/- 11.4 years. Most of the study patients were males (82.2%). Among the UAE nationals, 49.2% had genotype 1, 34.6% had 3, 14.5% had 4 and only 1.6% patients had genotype 2. High prevalence (68.4%) of genotype 1 was also observed in Iranian patients, while, 96.4% Egyptians had genotype 4 and 77.2% Pakistanis had genotype 3. The patients with genotype 1 had significantly high HCV RNA levels than the patients with genotype 3 and 4, p < .001 and < .009 respectively.

In this study high prevalence of genotype 1 followed by 3 and 4 was seen in UAE nationals which is in contrast to the earlier reports of genotypes 4 being most common in Middle East countries. Among expatriates, genotype 1 was common in Iranians, 4 in Egyptians and 3 in Pakistanis.