Transmission routes of chronic hepatitis C and their relation to HCV genotypes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C virus transmission routes in chronic hepatitis C patients, the relationship between the viral genotype and the transmission routes were studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Genotyping was performed by using a commercial reverse hybridization method, Line Probe Assay.

RESULTS

Genotyping of 108 HCV RNA positive patients revealed four different types (1, 2, 3, and 4) and some mixed types. Subtype 1b was the most common (n=82). Subtype 1a and 3a were detected in six patients, 2a/2c was detected in seven patients, and 4c/4d was detected in one patient respectively. Six subjects revealed mixed infections. Three of them were 1a+1b, two of them were 1b+4a, and one of them was 1b+2a/2c. Genotype 1b was most common in all groups. In 38.8% of the 108 patients with a history of blood or blood product transfusions, 16.6% of patients with a history of surgery, 15.7% of patients had an anamnesis of dental treatment and, 12.9% of patients receiving dialysis.

CONCLUSION

Before the routine screening of blood donor practices became mandatory, the most common route of HCV infection was blood transfusions. The other risk factors of transmission such as tattoos, piercings, iatrogenic infections and intravenous drug usage have not been recorded for any of these patients in our study. The patient with a history of surgery had the genotype 1b as the most common genotype. The genotype 1b was determined in 75.9% of the whole patient population of the study.