HEPATITIS-C VIRUS GENOTYPES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

The importance of determination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes a nd subtypes has been demonstrated not only as epidemiological characte ristics, but also as prognostic factors regarding the seriousness of t he disease and response to interferon (IFN) in patients with chronic h epatitis C (CHC). Aim of this study was to determine HCV genotypes in a group of elderly patients with CHC, in order to acquire epidemiologi cal data on the prevalence bf HCV genotypes in Eastern Sicily, and to evaluate any relationship with the seriousness of the disease and with the response to IFN. The study was carried out on 22 patients with CH C, aged from 65 to 75 years. The prevalence of HCV-RNA subtypes in eld erly patients (Group A) was compared with two other groups: Group B ag ed from 36 to 64 years; and Group C aged from 20 to 35 years. HCV-RNA proved to be positive in 20 of the 22 patients in Group A, and in 100 % of these cases the prevalent subtype was Ib; in the other two groups the occurrence of other subtypes was more frequent, especially in the younger ages. in conclusion, the subtype Ib is indigenous in our regi on and it cannot be proposed as the only prognostic factor for serious ness of the disease and response to IFN, especially in elderly patient s.