Objective: To study the distribution of HCV genotypes in different clinical types of hepatitis C in Shenyang area and its clinical significance.
Methods: The HCV genotypes of 84 HC patients of different clinical types were detected by PCR assay with four kinds of type-specific primers.
Results: In 84 patients with hepatitis C, the HCV-II and HCV-III genotypes and the II/III mixed genotype were 53.6%, 30.9% and 15.5% respectively. The distribution of HCV genotypes in different HC clinical types was not identical, P < 0.05. In acute hepatitis, in mild, moderate and severe degree of chronic hepatitis, and in liver cirrhosis, the infection rates of genotype II HCV were 55.6%, 36.2%, 75.0%, 85.7% and 88.9% respectively, but that of genotype III were 22.2%, 46.8%, 8.3%, 0% and 11.1% respectively.
Conclusion: Infection of geno type II HCV was predominant in Shenyang area followed by HCV-III and II/III mixed genotypes. The different genotypes of HCV were related to the severity of hepatitis C.