DETERMINATION OF TYPE-1, TYPE-2 AND TYPE- 3 HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN RELATION TO THE VIRAL GENOTYPES IN CHRONICALLY INFECTED PATIENTS

SUMM. The determination of the viral genotype in chronically HCV infec ted patients is used as an epidemiologic tool, a predictive marker of the evolution of the disease and especially of the response to the int erferon alfa therapy. Its determination needs an amplification of the selected genomic region and remains expensive. Thus an indirect determ ination of the genotype has been proposed using the characterization o f type-specific antibodies, In 101 chronically HCV infected patients, a serologic method specific for HCV type 1, 2 and 3 has been evaluated in relation to the genotyping one. The test was interpretable in 64 s era and in agreement with the genotyping method in 92 % of the samples . The reactivity of the test was lower in hemodialysis and IVDUs patie nts (p < 0,02). The mixed results obtained by the serologic typing met hod were not in agreement with the results of the genotyping coinfecti ons. We could not differenciate the possible past infections from the cross-reactivities of the test. The serotyping method was simple and r apid, allowing generally a deduction of the viral genotype, It could b e an attractive approach if the reactivity was improved and the subtyp ing was possible.