Chronic Infection with Hepatitis C Virus Subtype 1g in a Japanese Patient Successfully Treated with...

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) is a significant global health concern.
• HCV exhibits remarkable genetic diversity, with numerous subtypes and quasispecies.
• Understanding HCV subtype distribution is crucial for epidemiological tracking and treatment strategies.

Observation:

• A 66-year-old male patient with chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) infection was identified.
• The patient had a history of plasma exchange in Egypt 30 years prior for falciparum malaria.
• Analysis revealed the presence of HCV subtype 1g, a novel finding in Japan.

Findings:

• Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the patient's HCV infection as subtype 1g.
• The identified HCV strain possessed naturally occurring resistance-associated substitutions in the NS3 and NS5A regions.
• Successful treatment was achieved using a combination therapy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir.

Implications:

• This case marks the first documented instance of HCV subtype 1g in Japan.
• The findings highlight the importance of molecular diagnostics for identifying rare HCV subtypes.
• Effective treatment of drug-resistant HCV subtypes with direct-acting antivirals is feasible.