Clinical and Molecular Hepatology  2013;19(1):45-50

doi:10.3350/cmh.2013.19.1.45

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Korean patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 6.

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

Affiliations

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Keywords

HCV; Genotype; Epidemiology; Treatment; Korea

Country

Republic 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.