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Hepatitis C virus and liver diseases
Author(s) -
Esumi Mariko,
Shikata Toshio
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1994.tb01692.x
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis c virus , virology , virus , interferon , liver disease , medicine , chronic liver disease , hepatitis c , hepatitis , biology , immunology , gastroenterology , cirrhosis
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was identified molecularly and a procedure for its diagnosis was developed. In Japan, 70–80% of all cases of chronic liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma, are associated with HCV infection. Hepatitis C virus is a typical RNA virus with a high mutation rate. At least six variants of HCV have been identified by their nucleotide sequences. These variants are still classified into three types each containing at least two subtypes; that is, 1a (type I) and 1 b (type II), 2a (type III) and 2b (type IV), and 3a (type V) and 3b (type VI). Type 1 b (type II) is the predominant HCV in Japan. Even HCV cDNA clones isolated from a single patient showed mutations of HCV, especially in envelopecoding regions. Thus HCV may change during the course of chronic hepatitis due to the high mutation rate of HCV itself and elimination of some clones by immune reactions or interferon therapy. These findings explain the higher rate of chronic HCV infection and indicate that production of an effective vaccine is difficult.