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Genotypes and virus load in patients with hepatitis C infection

Genotyp und Höhe der Virämie bei Patienten mit Hepatitis C Virus Infektion

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Summary

Virus load was tested by means of PCR calibrated with standards and HCV genotypes were determined by the LIPA-technique using sera from 123 HCV patients. Of these 39 were on renal hemodialysis treatment, 19 suffered from hemophilia, 13 were i.v. drug users and the remaining 52 had none of these risk factors (chronic hepatitis group). The most prevalent subtype in Austria was 1b followed by 3a and 1a. However, genotype 1b infections were found relatively less often in hemophilia patients and drug users than in the other groups, indicating that hemophiliacs probably had been infected by an antihemophilic plasma coming from South American or Asian donors. The highest amounts of virus were found in patients infected with genotype 3a. Determination of the patient's virus load and of the infecting subtype of HCV may be helpful in planning interferon alpha therapy.

Zusammenfassung

In Sera von Hepatitis C Patienten wurde die Höhe der Virämie mittels PCR sowie der Genotyp des infizierenden HCV bestimmt. Bei insgesamt 123 untersuchten Personen handelte es sich um 39 Dialysepatienten, 19 Hämophile, 13 Drogenabhängige sowie 52 weitere Patienten ohne einen dieser Risikofaktoren (chronische Hepatitis-Gruppe). In Österreich fanden wir den Genotyp 1b vorherrschend, gefolgt von 3a und 1a. Allerdings waren Infektionen mit 1b bei Hämophilen und Drogenabhängigen seltener als bei Dialysepatienten und der Patientengruppe mit chronischer Hepatitis. Hämophile wurden möglicherweise mit antihämophilem Plasma infiziert, dessen Spender aus Südamerika bzw. Asien stammten. Die höchsten Virusmengen im Blut fanden wir bei Personen mit Infektionen durch Genotyp 3a. Die Bestimmung der Virämiehöhe, sowie des infizierten Genotyps könnte für die Indikation einer Interferontherapie bei Hepatitis C von entscheidender Bedeutung sein.

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  1. Abt. für Klinische Virologie, Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    H. Hofmann

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Hofmann, H. Genotypes and virus load in patients with hepatitis C infection. Infection 23, 133–138 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01793852

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01793852

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