Objective: To define the conditions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and geographic and demographic distributions of genotypes in China.
Methods: HCV infected patients were selected from individuals with different patterns of liver diseases and high risk populations in different parts of China. Genotypes of HCV in some isolates were further analyzed, based on the data from our laboratory studies and some carefully selected published literatures.
Results: The anti-HCV positive rates were 9.7% in patients with acute hepatitis, 13.3% in patients with chronic hepatitis, 18.3% in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 33.0% in patients with liver cirrhosis, and 43.2% in patients with posttransfusional hepatitis (average, 16.2% in patients with liver diseases). The anti-HCV positive rates in the high risk populations were 36.4% in leukemic patients, 43.0% in hemodialysis patients, 12.7% in blood donors, 64.1% in drug abusers, 13.1% in prostitutes, and 2.57% in naturally healthy people. At least 4 clades (clades 1, 2, 3 and 6) of HCV were found in China with different geographic and demographic distributions. Genotype 1b was the most widely distributed genotype, and genotype 3 was mainly found in Yunnan Province, Southwest China.
Conclusion: China has a high incidence of HCV infection. Our results will provide a strategic basis for diagnosis, treatment and possibly prophylaxis of hepatitis C virus diseases.