HEPATITIS-C VIRUS SEROTYPES AND LIVER PATHOLOGY

Citation
M. Guido et al., HEPATITIS-C VIRUS SEROTYPES AND LIVER PATHOLOGY, Liver, 16(6), 1996, pp. 353-357
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Journal title
LiverACNP
ISSN journal
01069543
Volume
16
Issue
6
Year of publication
1996
Pages
353 - 357
Database
ISI
SICI code
0106-9543(1996)16:6<353:HVSALP>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the pathology of chronic hepatitis C in relation to HCV serotype, and to speculate on possible difference s in the pathogenesis of liver injury. Liver biopsies were investigate d from 59 consecutive patients in whom hepatitis C virus genotypes wer e determined by a serological genotyping assay that detects antibodies directed to epitopes encoded by the NS4 region. A morphological study was performed in each case, semiquantitatively scoring necro-inflamma tory and fibrotic liver lesions. The prevalence of HCV serotypes was a s follows: 26 of the 59 patients (44%) had type 1 infection, 11 (19%) had type 2 and 20 (35%) had type 3. A significant association between intravenous drug abuse and serotype 3 infection was observed. Patients with HCV type 2 proved significantly older than patients with infecti on types 1 or 3, and more frequently they showed a more active liver d isease, but no differences were found in the quality and acinar topogr aphic distribution of all the morphological lesions scored. In conclus ion, in chronic hepatitis C a more active liver disease can be related to HCV serotype 2 but the spectrum of liver lesions is independent of HCV types. From a morphological point of view, a different pathogenes is of liver injury related to different HCV types is unlikely.