Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Korean patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 6.
- Author:
Mun Hyuk SEONG
1
;
Ho KIL
;
Jong Yeop KIM
;
Sang Soo LEE
;
Eun Sun JANG
;
Jin Wook KIM
;
Sook Hyang JEONG
;
Young Seok KIM
;
Si Hyun BAE
;
Youn Jae LEE
;
Han Chu LEE
;
Haesun YUN
;
Byung Hak KANG
;
Kisang KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Multicenter Study ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- Keywords: HCV; Genotype; Epidemiology; Treatment; Korea
- MeSH: Adult; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Cohort Studies; Female; Genotype; Hepacivirus/*genetics; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology; Humans; Liver/pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; RNA, Viral/blood; Republic of Korea; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders/complications; Tattooing
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2013;19(1):45-50
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes varies geographically. In Korea, genotypes 1 and 2 comprise more than 90% of HCV infections, while genotype 6 is very rare. This study compared the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with genotype 6 HCV infection with those infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 2. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter HCV cohort study that enrolled 1,173 adult patients, of which 930 underwent HCV genotype analysis, and only 9 (1.0%) were found to be infected with genotype 6 HCV. The clinical and epidemiological parameters of the genotypes were compared. RESULTS: The patients with genotype 6 HCV had a mean age of 41.5 years, 77.8% were male, and they had no distinct laboratory features. A sustained virologic response (SVR) was observed in four (67%) of six patients who received antiviral therapy. Risk factors such as the presence of a tattoo (n=6, 66.7%), more than three sexual partners (n=3, 33.3%), and injection drug use (n=3, 33.3%) were more common among genotype 6 patients than among genotypes 1 or 2. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology and treatment response of patients infected with genotype 6 HCV differed significantly from those with genotypes 1 or 2, warranting continuous monitoring.
