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Clinical, biochemical and pathological profiles of 5464 Egyptian chronic hepatitis C-infected patients
Insights
This study details the characteristics of over 5,000 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients in Egypt, finding mild liver disease and low viral load in most. Advanced fibrosis correlated with BMI and lab markers, not viral load.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly endemic in Egypt, with genotype 4 being predominant.
- Limited data exists on the specific burden and characteristics of HCV in Egypt.
- This study addresses the scarcity of HCV burden data in the Egyptian population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the clinical, biochemical, and pathological features of chronic HCV patients in Egypt.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the HCV patient population in Egypt.
- To establish baseline data for chronic HCV management and research in Egypt.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 5,464 HCV-antibody and PCR-positive patients.
- Data collected from pre-treatment assessments at a National Treatment Center in Cairo, Egypt.
- Inclusion of demographic, laboratory, and liver biopsy (METAVIR score) data.
Main Results:
- The study population comprised predominantly males (81.4%) of productive age with a mean BMI of 28 kg/m2.
- Most patients showed mild liver enzyme elevation, low viral load (50% <100 IU/mL), and normal or mildly elevated AFP levels.
- Liver biopsies indicated mild fibrosis in the majority (92% ≤A2, 80% ≤F2), with only 7.3% having advanced fibrosis (F4).
- Advanced fibrosis was significantly correlated with platelet count, AST/ALT ratio, AFP levels, and BMI (p <0.001), but not viral load.
Conclusions:
- This is the first nationwide-scale study to provide extensive demographic, biochemical, and histological data for a large cohort of chronic HCV patients in Egypt.
- The findings characterize the chronic HCV population in Egypt, predominantly infected with genotype 4.
- The study highlights factors associated with advanced fibrosis, crucial for targeted treatment strategies.
Background/Aims:
In Egypt, hepatitis C virus (HC is highly endemic with at least 91% are genotype-4. However, HCV-specific burden data for Egypt are scarce. The study aims to identify clinical, biochemical and pathological features of chronic HCV population in Egypt.
Methodology:
We analyzed retrospective data of 5,464 HCV-antibody and PCR positive patients attending pre-treatment assessment at one of the National Treatment Centers, Cairo, Egypt.
Results:
Chronic HCV patients were males (81.4%) in their productive age, mean body mass index (BMI): 28 kg/m2. Laboratory profile demonstrated mean platelet count 214 x 10(3)/µ L with only 14% having thrombocytopenia, amino-transferases were mildly elevated: mean AST, ALT were 56 and 63 respectively,low viraemia: 50% had viral load <100 (x 10(3)) IU/mL,and median AFP level 3.3 ng/mL. Liver biopsy revealed ≤A2 in 92% of patients; 80% had ≤F2 and 7.3 % had F4 according to the METAVIR score. Meta regression demonstrated that advanced stages of fibrosis were significantly correlated with platelet count, AST/ALT ratio, AFP levels and BMI (p <0.001). However there was no correlation with viral load.
Conclusions:
To our knowledge, this is the first study on nationwide scale that provided the demographic, biochemical,and histological characteristics for this number of chronic HCV patients presumably genotype-4.
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