Hepatitis C virus genotypes and risk of cirrhosis in southern Italy

Because hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes have raised considerable interest as variables that influence chronic hepatitis C progression, a case-contro l study was conducted to estimate their effects on patients with cirrhosis. Case patients (n = 46) had tested positive for anti-HCV antibody and HCV R NA and were residents of the study area who had cirrhosis recently diagnose d. Controls (n = 138) were drawn randomly from a residents' cohort from the same area. Demographic and other information were recorded. Presence of HC V infection, presence of HCV RNA, and HCV genotypes were assessed. Crude, s tratified, and logistic regression analyses were performed. HCV genotype 2a /c occurred in 84 controls (60.9%) and 9 case patients (19.6%); HCV genotyp e 1b was found in 45 controls (32.6%) and 34 case patients (73.9%). HCV 1b genotype showed an independent effect on the risk of cirrhosis (odds ratio, 7.49; 95% confidence interval, 3.15-17.81). No significant effects related to other variables were observed. These results indicate that the genetic diversity of HCV phylogenetic variants may explain differences in biologica l behaviors.