Genetic distance and heterogenecity between quasispecies is a critical predictor to IFN response in Egyptian patients with HCV genotype-4.

ABSTRACT:

Background

HCV is one of the major health problems in Egypt, where it is highly prevalent. Genotype 4 is the most common genotype of HCV and its response to treatment is still a controversy.

Methods

HCV genotype 4 quasispecies diversity within the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) was studied in a series of 22 native Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus with no previous treatment who satisfied all NIH criteria for combined treatment of pegylated IFN and ribavirine and was correlated with the outcome of treatment. The study also included 7 control patients with no antiviral treatment. HCV sequencing was done using the TRUGENE HCV 5-NC genotyping kit.

Results

At the 48th week of treatment, 15 patients (68%) showed virological response. Whereas HCV-RNA was still

SUBMITTER: Zekri AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1805740 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature