Distribution of viral genotypes and extrahepatic manifestations in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Eastern Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM To investigate the distribution of viral genotypes, the extrahepatic manifestations, and the relationship between genotypes and extrahepatic manifestations in patients with chronic hepatitis C. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 62 treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Genotype determination was performed by DNA sequencing analysis. To investigate extrahepatic manifestations, the patients' data, recorded prospectively during the pretreatment period, were analyzed. RESULTS Genotype determination was successful in 74.2% of the cases. All patients were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype lb. At least 1 extrahepatic manifestation was identified in 37.1% of the patients. The most frequent clinical manifestations were type II diabetes mellitus (8.1%) and arthralgia or arthritis (8.0%). There was no relationship between extrahepatic manifestations and fibrosis or transaminase levels, but female sex and advanced age were risk factors. Because all patients were infected with the same genotype, the relationship between extrahepatic manifestations and genotype could not be examined. CONCLUSION HCV genotype 1b is predominant in patients with chronic hepatitis C in the Eastern Anatolian Region of Turkey. In total, 37.1% of the patients had at least 1 extrahepatic manifestation. Female sex and advanced age were risk factors for having extrahepatic manifestations.