Distribution of HCV Genotypes in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: A Three-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Hepacivirus in the Flaviviridae family. It has eight known genotypes and 93 subtypes. HCV can be transmitted through various routes, including blood transfusion, surgical procedures, sexual contact, and intravenous drug use, leading to both acute and chronic hepatitis. Genotype (GT) determination and viral load assessment are essential for selecting an appropriate antiviral treatment regimen and duration, and for monitoring treatment efficacy. We aimed to ascertain the genotype distribution over a three-year period. Methods: In this study, patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection and followed at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Practice and Research Hospital between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023, were retrospectively evaluated for their age, gender, and HCV genotype data. Results: A total of 91 patients’ HCV genotype data were included in the study. The study revealed that 95.6% of the patients were Turkish citizens, while 4.4% were of foreign nationality. Among the 91 patients, 60 (65.9%) were found to have genotype 1b, 12 (13.2%) had genotype 1a, 10 (11%) had genotype 3, 6 (6.6%) had genotype 4, 2 (2.2%) had genotype 2, and one patient (1.1%) had a co-infection of genotypes 3 and 4. Conclusion: Genotype 1b was dominant in our region. Identifying HCV genotypes is important in guiding the prognosis and treatment of chronic HCV infections and monitoring the epidemiologic changes. This information will be of great value in the health policy that targets HCV and in elimination efforts.