Korean J Hepatol.  1998 Sep;4(3):235-243.

Hepatitis C virus genotyping of 100 consecutive anti-HCV positive cases with PCR using type=specific primers

• Lee YS
• Chung YH
• Min YI
• Moon DH
• Na DS
• Suh DJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The distribut ion of HCV genotypes varies with geographical area, and genot ypes can affect t he nat ur al course of HCV infection, but adequate genot yping data were not accumulat ed in Korea. This study was des igned to det ermine the pattern of distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea and it's clinical implications.
METHODS
100 cons ecut ive anti- HCV( +), RT-PCR(+) cases were recruited. Genotype specific oligonucleotide primers were made according to the sequence variation of NS5 region of HCV genome. Heminested PCR with mixed primersets was per formed, and genotype specific PCR products of different size were verified. Sequencing of cloned PCR products was done in cases with representative genotypes. Clinical profiles of genotype 1b and 2a were compared.
RESULTS
Genotyping was done in 78 among 100 cases. Genotype 1b (48/ 78, 57.7%) and 2a (25/ 78, 32.1%) were most prevalent , and 1a (1/ 78, 1.3%) and mixed form (7/ 78, 9.0%) were also found. Milder cases with persistent normal ALT levels were more frequently seen in genotype 2a ( 9/ 25, 36.0%) than in genot ype 1b (3/ 45, 6.7%) (p< 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Genotype 1b and 2a were major ones in anti- HCV( +) Korean adults, and the tendency of milder clinical course of genotype 2a was suggested.

Keyword

Hepatitis C virus; genotype; type-specific primer

MeSH Terms

Adult
Clone Cells
DEET
DNA Primers
Genome
Genotype
Hepacivirus*
Hepatitis C*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Korea
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
DEET
DNA Primers