Hepatitis C virus genotyping by polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay among Saudi patients in the Western Province, Saudi Arabia

Background: The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in the We stern Province of Saudi Arabia is unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalent HCV genotypes among HCV seropositive Saudi patients in the Western Province, and to study the relationship between types/subty pes, clinical status and liver histology. Patients and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 140 consecutive pat ients attending the Hepatology Clinic with varying grades of liver diseases , high alanine transferase (ALT) for >6 months, positive HCV, qualitative P CR, and who had had liver biopsy. HCV genotyping was determined on patients who had tested positive by both HCV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and recombina nt immunoblot assay (RIBA). Results: Of the 140 patients, 97 (69.2%) had genotype 4, 18 (12.8%) had gen otype la, and 16 (11.4%) had genotype lb. Genotypes 2b and 5 were found in two patients (1.4%) each, while 5 patients (3.6%) had mixed infections with genotypes 4 and 5. Of the 97 patients infected with genotype 4, 84 (86.6%) had chronic active hepatitis (CAH), two (2.1%) had CAH with active cirrhos is, 9 (9.3%) had cirrhosis and two (2.1%) had normal liver histology (NLH). Conclusion: The most prevalent HCV genotype in the Western Province of Saud i Arabia was genotype 4 (69.2%). Genotype Ib was encountered in 16 (11.4%) patients. For the first time, genotype 5 was identified in the Western Prov ince of Saudi Arabia. Genotypes lb and 4 were associated with different his tological grades of liver disease.