DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF HEPATITIS C IN PAKISTANI POPULATION
Keywords:
Demography, Hepatitis C, HCV, Interleukin 28 B, IL28B, Genotype 3a, Risk factorsAbstract
Objectives: To know the demographic features of Hepatitis C in Pakistani population
Material & Methods: A specifically designed data sheet for patients visiting OPD of KRL Hospital Islamabad was used which enrolled their demographic characteristics. This stduy conducted in the department of medicine KRL Hospital Islamabad Pakistan from January 2016 to December 2016. A total of 103 patients were included in the study having HCV antibodies positive by ELISA. Quantitative PCR for HCV-RNA was done using Qiagenartus®. For HCV genotyping, viral RNA was extracted using QIAamp Viral RNA Mini kit. Allele-specific PCR was used for the genotyping of IL28B. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis.
Results: Out of 103 patients 38 (36.9%) were males and 65 (63.1%) were females. Mean age was 48.67 years. Mean HCV-RNA viral load was 906661.42 IU/ml.35 (33.9%) patients were graduates, 43 (41.7%) were matric while 25 (24.3%) patients were below matric or uneducated. 28 (27.2%) patients had positive family history. Risk factors for acquiring HCV was present in 66 (64.1%). 26.2% patients reported having dental procedure in the past. 6.8% patients had history
of surgical procedures. 3.9% patients had history of shaving by barbers. 1.9% patients had history of needle prick injury. 1.9% patients reported of having blood transfusions in the past. 23.3% had multiple exposure. No risk factor was reported in 35.9% patients. 41 (39.8%) patients had a comorbid condition. Genotype 3a was the most common genotype accounting for 101 (98.1%) patients while only 02 (1.9%) patients had genotype 3b. Total of 73 patients were tested for IL28B polymorphism. 29 (39.7%) patients had CC genotype. 36 (49.3%) patients had CT genotype and 08 (11%) patients had TT genotype. 73 (70.9%) patients had not received treatment in the past, 21 (20.4%) patients were relapsers while 09 (8.7%) patients were non-responders.
Conclusion: Dental procedure was by far the most common identifiable risk factor in our study. Patients with relatively
low educational background had high incidence of hepatitis C in this study. Genotype 3a was the most prevalent hepatitis C genotype. Interleukin 28-B (IL28B) polymorphism reveals a different model of distribution than previously reported showing high CT genotype as compared to CC genotype.
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