Background/Aim. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important
sociomedical problem worldwide because the chronification of the disease is
frequent and the occurance of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
can be expected. The aim of this study was to determine the way of infection,
pathohistological changes of the liver, virus genotype presence and sustained
virological response after pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in
prison inmates. Methods. The study included 52 patients with chronic HCV
infection classified in two groups managed during 2008-2010. The first group
consisted of prisoners (n = 22) and the second one of ?non-prisoners? (n =
30). The patients from both groups underwent diagnostic preparation
(biochemical analyses, liver biopsy, hepatitis virus detection and
genotypisation using polymerase chain reaction issue). The treatment lasted
for 24 weeks for virus genotypes 2 and 3, and 48 weeks for genotypes 1 and 4.
Results. All the patients were males, approximately the same age (35 ? 4.1
and 31 ? 7.6 years). Virus genotype 1 was significantly more frequent in the
prisoners (p < 0.05), that demanded longer treatment (48 weeks). At the same
time, statistically significant higher number of patients, ?non-prisoners?,
achieved a sustained virological response (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Intravenous
drug abuse and tattoos, separately or together, are the most frequent way of
infection in prisoners. Dominant presence of virus genotype 1 resulted in
lower number of patients with sustained virological response, probably
regardless prison environment and regime.
Hepatitis C virus core antigen, an earlier and stronger predictor on sustained virological response in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection
