Frequency of Different HCV Genotypes in Faisalabad

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is thought to be one of the major causative agent of viral hepatitis. A large number of HCV infected patients develop chronic hepatitis which often results in liver cirrhosis and even progress to hepatoma. Methods: A total of 93 patients from Faisalabad, who were HCV RNA positive were tested for genotyping. Results: Out of the 93 tested serum samples 84 were typable and 9 were found to be untypable. In the typable samples most prevalent genotype was found to be type 3a and common cause of untypable genotypes was a low viral load. Conclusions: The most common type of HCV infection in Faisalabad is due to genotype 3a and the common cause of untypable genotype is probably low viral load.The HCV genotype is the strongest predictive parameter for sustained virological response (SVR). Patients with different HCV genotypes respond differently to antiviral therapy. Firm evidence has been established that patients with genotypes 2 and 3 are more likely to achieve SVR to combination therapy than Genotype 1 patients.