Genotypic Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The HCV genotype has a geographic distribution and an important role in clinical and histological outcomes. This study determined HCV genotypes and their related risk factors among patients from Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, 223 patients infected with HCV who referred to Ahwaz Jundishapour University Hospitals (AJSUH) and Hepatitis Clinic were enrolled. Specific and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were performed to determine viral infection and genotype analysis. Liver enzymes including ALT and AST and the correlated risk factors were also determined. RESULTS The HCV genotype distribution was as follows: genotype 1a (41.7%); genotype 1b (2.7%); genotype 2 (4.1%); genotype 3a (31.4%); and genotype 4 (1.8%). There were 42 samples (18.84%) not classified into any of the known HCV subtypes. No patient was infected with more than one genotype. HIV was found in four (1.8%) cases, of which all were intravenous drug users. Univariate analysis demonstrated an independent association of intravenous drug use (IVDU) and genotypes 1a (60.7%) and 3a (30%). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that genotypes 1a and 3a are the most common ones among Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in Khuzestan Province, Southwest, Iran.