Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as a leading cause of chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, this study was undertaken for detection and to observe genotypic distribution of the virus in this geographical region. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to quantitatively detect HCV RNA in Hepatitis C patients and to determine the distribution pattern of its genotypes by real time polymerase chain reaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. In seropositive Hepatitis C patients, quantification of HCV-RNA was done by real time PCR and in HCV-RNA positive samples, genotyping for HCV was conducted. RESULT: A total of 300 patients were recruited in the study, of which 165 were anti HCV positive and among them, 127 were HCV-RNA positive. These positive samples were further subjected to genotype determination using real time PCR. 98 samples were positive for genotype, where genotype 3 was seen in 90 patients, genotype 1, in 3 patients and genotype 4, in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of genotype is crucial for management of HCV infection and prediction of prognosis. Patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and 4 will have to receive IFN and ribavirin for a period of 48 weeks and show a poor sustained viral response. On the contrary, patients infected with HCV genotype 2 and 3 are reported to have better response to therapy.