The Correlation between HCV Genotypes and Liver Damage in HCV Patients

Background and Hepatitis Ç Virus (HÇV), one major factor causing chronic liver disease, has been classified into six major genotypes based on the variation in the genome sequencing. Various genotypes of this virus are associated with the intensity of liver tissue changes in patients with hepatitis Ç. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the HÇV genotypes and liver damages. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 86 HÇV positive patients referring to Razi Üniversity Hospital in Qaemshahr from 2007 to 2010. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PÇR) test was employed in order to determine the genotypes of HÇV. Moreover, histological activity index of the biopsy (Knodell score) was calculated through staining and the amount of ÂLT and ÂST Sera were measured. Âmong the samples taken from the patients under study, 3a genotype was seen in 58.2% and 1a/b genotype existed in 41.8% of them. The mean serum levels of ÂST and ÂLT were 89.5 ± 60.8 and 103.7 ± 79.4 ÏÜ/lit, respectively. The histological activity index in 13.1% was at low level, in 41% at moderate level, and in 45.9% at high level. No significant difference was observed in the mean scores of Knodell in different HÇV genotypes (P<0.05), while there was a positive correlation between ÂST and ÂLT level and the mean score of Knodell (P<0.05).Çonclusion: The findings of this study indicated that there was no significant correlation between HÇV genotype and histological activity index of the patients. However, the serum levels of ÂST and ÂLT increased with the increase in the histological activity index.