HEPATITIS C VIRUS GENOTYPE DISTRIBUTION AMONGST HCV POSITIVE PATIENTS PRESENT ING AT A PRIVATE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by the
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), often results in chronic hepatitis,
cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV has different
genotypic geographic distribution as well as genetic
diversity and heterogeneity. The present study was
conducted to find out the frequencies of different HCV
Genotypes in patients referred to a tertiary care hospital
of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and to
determine correlations, if any, between Genotype, age,
viral load, gender and nationality.
Materials & Methods: The present descriptive study
was conducted in the Pathology laboratory of Rehman
Medical Institute (RMI), Peshawar over a period of 8
months (August 2015 to March 2016). Blood samples of
36 HCV positive patients (by ELISA) were included for
study. RNA samples of HCV positive patients were
subjected to genotyping using Single Linear Array HCV
Genotyping strip (Roche Diagnostic) by hybridization
method. The Linear Array HCV Genotyping Strip results
were read visually by comparing the pattern of blue bands
to a reference table of Genotype patterns. HCV
genotyping data were analyzed by SPSS version 16.0. Viral
load association with HCV Genotypes, age, gender and
nationality were assessed by Chi-square test with p≤0.05
considered significant.
Results: Of 36 patients, 24 (70.6%) were from Pakistan
and 10 (29.4%) from Afghanistan. The ages of these
subjects ranged from 20-60 years with male to female ratio
of 1:1. Amongst them, HCV Genotype was positive in 34
(94.4%) cases. The most frequent Genotype found was
Genotype 3. Genotype 3 alone was found in 24 (70.6%)
patients and Genotype 1 alone in 01 (02.9%) patient. The
combination of Genotype 3 and 4 was found in 06 (17.6%)
patients, while the combination of 1 and 3 was found in 03
(08.8%) patients. No association was found between
Genotype and viral load, age, gender and nationality.
Conclusion: HCV Genotype 3 was the most frequent
genotype, similar to other studies carried out in different
regions of Pakistan.