Genotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C patients in Greece

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Marilena Stamouli1, Ioanna Panagiotou, Dimitrios Kairis

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Naval and Veterans Hospital, Athens, Greece. mixalodimitrakis@yahoo.com

Clinical Laboratory
|March 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3, particularly subtype 3a, is most common in Greek patients. Genotype distribution shows ongoing changes, with subtype 3a prevalent in younger males.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant global health challenge, leading to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and cancer.
  • HCV exhibits considerable genetic diversity, with distinct genotypes and subtypes varying regionally.
  • Understanding the prevalence of HCV genotypes is crucial for effective treatment strategies and public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency distribution of Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Greek patients with chronic infection.
  • To identify the most common HCV subtypes circulating in Greece.
  • To analyze demographic associations with specific HCV genotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of viral load and HCV genotyping was performed on specimens from 82 patients with chronic HCV infection.
  • Patients represented diverse risk groups, encompassing both males and females.
  • Data collection focused on identifying the prevalence of different HCV genotypes and subtypes.

Main Results:

  • HCV genotype 3 was the most prevalent (41.5%), followed by genotype 1 (34.1%) and genotype 2 (12.2%).
  • The most common subtypes identified were 3a (32.9%) and 1b (26.8%).
  • Mixed infections within genotypes were observed in 14 subjects, but no mixed infections across different genotypes occurred.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C virus genotypes 3a and 1b are the predominant types in the Greek patient population studied.
  • HCV genotype 3a demonstrated a higher prevalence among younger and male patients.
  • The findings suggest a dynamic and evolving distribution pattern of HCV genotypes in Greece.
Abstract

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