Background: The natural history of hepatitis C genotype III infection, the predominant form in India, is not wholly understood. This study attempted to compare the natural history of diseases due to genotypes III and I.
Methods: This 10-year prospective follow-up study (mean follow-up period=3.6±1.4, range=1–10 years) included 108 patients of hepatitis C. Group1 comprised 65 patients with hepatitis C genotype III infection (mean age=46.1±11.3 years, male: female=1.8: 1) and group 2 comprised 43 patients with hepatitis C genotype I infection (mean age=44.2±8.2 years, male: female=2.1: 1). Demographic features, clinical presentation and course, response to treatment (either interferon-ribavirin or peginterferon-ribavirin combination) and complications were noted for all patients. Data were analysed using the chi-square test and Student’s t-test.
Results: The number of steatosis cases was larger in group 1 (32.3%, 21/65 patients) than in group 2 (18.6%, 8/43 patients) although statistically not significant. There was no significant difference in the mode of infection, presence of diabetes, obesity or alcoholism, clinical presentation, extra-hepatic manifestations, stage of liver disease, complications like decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality. Overall, the sustained treatment response was significantly greater in group 1 patients [(87.5%, 21/24 treated patients vs. 56.2%, 9/16 treated patients in group 2; p=0.0001)].
Conclusion: HCV with genotype III was associated with better treatment response. Although statistically not significant, more number of patients in genotype III had steatosis.