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Japan‐specific subtype of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b, J subtype, has relatively low pathogenicity
Author(s) -
Nakano Isao,
Fukuda Yoshihide,
Katano Yoshiaki,
Toyoda Hidenori,
Hayashi Kazuhiko,
Kumada Takashi,
Nakano Satoshi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1099
Subject(s) - cirrhosis , hepatocellular carcinoma , genotype , hepatitis c virus , liver disease , medicine , chronic liver disease , virology , virus , hepatitis c , viral disease , hepatitis , immunology , biology , gene , genetics
The prognostic implication of viral genotype 1b for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been controversial, possibly due to the pathogenetic heterogeneity of genotype 1b. We analyzed two newly delineated subtypes of HCV genotype 1b subtypes with respect to progression of liver disease. Patients with chronic HCV 1b infection (113 total, including 18 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 60 with chronic active hepatitis, 19 with cirrhosis, and 16 with hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis) were studied to elucidate the factors associated with progression of liver disease. Factors evaluated included sex, age at diagnosis, blood transfusion history, and HCV genotype 1b subtype (W subtype or J subtype). W subtype was identified more often in association with chronic active hepatitis than with chronic persistent hepatitis ( P = 0.0089), and more often in patients with cirrhosis than in those without ( P = 0.0044). The age‐, sex‐, and transfusion history‐adjusted odds ratios with respect to histological activity and presence of cirrhosis for W subtype compared to J subtype were 6.966 (1.856 to 26.145) and 6.397 (1.506 to 27.179), respectively. Age at diagnosis was the most important risk factor for predicting development of cirrhosis and carcinoma. In conclusion, the W subtype of HCV 1b is associated closely with histologically active disease and development of cirrhosis, whereas the Japan‐specific J subtype has relatively low pathogenicity. HCV genotype 1b, therefore, is heterogeneous in its pathogenicity. J. Med. Virol. 65:45–51, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.