Khalid Mehmood Yahya, Rizwan Rasul Khan, Umair Aziz, Syed Akhtar Hussain Bokhari.
Frequency of various hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Faisalabad and surrounding districts.
J Uni Med Dent Coll Jan ;4(2):57-62.

Objective: To observe the frequency of hepatitis C virus genotypes and to use this information as a guide for the selection of antiviral treatment. Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data of hepatitis patients enrolled for the cohort study Place and Duration of the Study: Umar Hospital and Madina Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan from August 2010 to December 2012 Methodology: Anti HCV antibody positive patients of both sexes with well preserved hepatic function, treatment naive willing to be treated with antiviral treatment were screened over the study period. Patients having uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, severe depression, decompensated liver disease were excluded from the study. All the baseline variables like age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), address and phone number were recorded. A written consent was also obtained. Genotype testing was done by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative measurement of the viral load was also done. In this assay, patients RNA along with standards and controls was run with master mix including specific primers. All the results were recorded on pre-printed performa. Results: A total of 91 patients were enrolled. Male to female ratio was 1.02(46/45) and mean age was 26.5±3.3 years. Fifty-nine percent of the study population belonged to peripheral suburbs and surrounding districts of Faisalabad while 41% belonged to district Faisalabad. Of the 91% patients 86.8% had genotype 3a while second largest type belonged to Untypable variety 7.7%. Conclusion: Like other areas of Pakistan, the most common genotype in Faisalabad and surrounding districts is type 3a followed by Untypable type.

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