Hepatitis C Treatment Outcomes in Kigali, Rwanda

Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus RNA in blood donors with anti‐hepatitis C virus reactivity in Rwanda

“…On phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced HCV strains, a predominance of Genotype 4 across Rwanda was revealed. This finding confirmed previous studies showing that Genotypes 1, 2, and 4 are prevalent in the Central African region, with Genotype 4 being predominant in patients treated for hepatitis C in Rwanda and in patients from bordering countries like Burundi, Uganda, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo . This Central African region together with the Middle East and Mediterranean regions have been shown to account for the highest number of HCV Genotype 4 infections in the world .…”

“…Relatively low anti‐HCV reactivity among Rwandan first‐time blood donors was found in this study, 1.6% compared to 3.1% to 4.9% reported from Rwandan HIV patients and pregnant women or from estimates based on the anti‐HCV prevalence in neighboring countries . These previous reports may have overestimated the anti‐HCV prevalence in the general population, since the prevalence among blood donors usually underestimates that by 24% to 44% owing to different factors such as predonation screening, higher socioeconomic status, and younger age of blood donors.…”

“…Unlike the previous reports from Rwanda and other countries in the region, we did not find any Genotype 1–infected blood donor. This genotype seems to be relatively common in the region and has been reported together with Genotype 2 in liver disease patients after treatment in one hospital in Kigali and in Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi . The reason for the prevalence of Genotype 4 among the blood donors and the absence of the other genotypes found in antiviral‐treated patients may indicate differences in disease progression and rate of spontaneous clearance between the genotypes.…”