Molecular detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and viral loads in chronic hcv infected patients in Kirkuk, Iraq

Abstract

Abstract Background: Hepatitis C is a disease that has a significant global impact. The World Health Organization estimates that over 150 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objectives: The purpose of the study was to make a quantitative determination of the hepatitis C viral load and genotype using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to determine how these factors relate to the HCV chronicity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out in Kirkuk city, Iraq. A total of 50 patients with chronic hepatitis C whose ages ranged from 20 to 75 years were the subjects of the study. The control group consisted of 30 apparently healthy persons admitted to the blood bank for blood donation. Five milliliters of blood were drawn for the molecular detection of HCV load and genotype by RT-PCR, detection of hepatitis C antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and biochemical analysis of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total serum bilirubin (TSB). Results: According to the research, 86% of chronic hepatitis C patients with ELISA-detected anti-HCV obtained positive PCR results. Statistically significant (P = 0.01). According to the study, more chronic hepatitis C patients (31 out of 43) had genotype 4 HCV than genotype 1a (27.91%). According to the study, genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C patients exhibited significantly higher viral loads than genotype 1a patients (1901.3 vs. 1693.41 IU/mL; P = 0.01). About 41.94% of men and 58.06% of females with chronic hepatitis C had genotype 4, whereas 33.3% of males and 66.67% of females had genotype 1a. Chronic hepatitis C patients had higher ALT, AST, ALP, and TSB levels than the control group, and the difference was very significant. ALT values were 64.69, 54.8, 285.5, and 4.33 mg/dL. This study found a connection between chronic hepatitis C viral load and ALT, AST, ALP, and TSB levels. Viral load rose as fibrosis progressed, according to this study. Patients without fibrosis had the lowest mean viral load (1235.5 IU/mL), followed by those with stage 1 fibrosis, whereas cirrhosis (stage 4) had the highest (2088.1 IU/mL). Non-fibrotic patients had the lowest virus burden. Conclusions: Genotype 4 of HCV was the most predominant genotype in Kirkuk city and there was a strong positive correlations of ALT and viral load with stages of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.