Prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics in patients with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C: a single institute experience

Seung Kak Shin, Soo Yong Park, Young Kul Jung, Eui Joo Kim, Heon Nam Lee, Jong Joon Lee, Oh Sang Kwon, Duck Joo Choi, Yun Soo Kim, Ju Hyun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C genotypes 1 and 2 are widely distributed globally. In contrast, genotype 6 is found mainly in Southeast Asia, while genotype 6 is rare in Korea. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS: We retrospectively identified 133 HCV-infected patients who underwent HCV genotype analysis between January 2012 and December 2012, and analyzed the prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C.

RESULTS: Among 133 patients, 53 patients (39.8%) were infected with genotype 1, 62 patients (46.6%) with genotype 2, 2 patients (1.5%) with genotype 3, 14 patients (10.5%) with genotype 6, and 2 patients (1.5%) with mixed genotypes (genotype 1 and 6). The risk factors associated with genotype 6 were acupuncture (n=4, 28.6%), intravenous drug use (n=3, 21.4%), tattoo (n=2, 14.3%), and transfusion (n=2, 14.3%). Of the 14 patients with genotype 6, 6 patients were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Five patients had reached the end of treatment. All patients reaching end of treatment for genotype 6 showed early virological response and sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of genotype 6 is 10.5% and mixed infections of genotype 1 and 6 are 1.5% in patients with chronic hepatitis C. A major potential risk factor is intravenous drug use and the treatment response rate to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is high in patients with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C. Large scale multicenter studies are needed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-111
Number of pages7
JournalThe Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi
Volume65
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Feb 1
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics in patients with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C: a single institute experience'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this