Detection and typing of hepatitis C RNA in liver biopsies and its relation to histopathology

This paper describes the correlation of hepatitis C genotypes detected in liver tissue with histological grading (inflammatory activity) and staging (degree of fibrosis/cirrhosis). The viral genotype was analysed by type-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and correlated with histology and age of patients. In 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection, genotypes 1a and 1b were detected in 13 (18.8%) and 31 (44.9%) liver biopsies, respectively. Genotypes 2a and 2b were each detected once (1.5%) and 12 (17.4%) tissue samples showed a mixed infection with two genotypes. In 11 (15.9%) biopsies, no genotype could be established. The liver specimens were grouped according to the presence or absence of genotype 1b: group A consisted of specimens infected with genotypes 1a, 2a, and 2b (n = 16), Group B contained biopsies infected with genotype 1b (n = 42), and group C were biopsies with no detectable genotype (n = 11). Activity (grade) of chronic hepatitis was not different in these three groups. However, advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis was observed in 16 (38.1%) biopsies in group B (containing genotype 1b), compared with none in group A (P = 0.01). The mean age of patients in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P = 0.038), and the mean age of patients with advanced fibrosis was higher than that of patients with low fibrosis scores within these two groups (P = 0.004). Stepwise logistic regression revealed an independent association of age and genotype 1b (group B) with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. These data indicate that patients infected with genotype 1b have an higher risk of developing cirrhosis than do patients with other genotypes.