Hepatitis C - Genotype 2

[kamal1981]

Hi,

One of my friends has been infected with HCV - Genotype 2.

The following are his test results:

Test Result

HCV Quantitative RT -PCR 22,72,700


Heamoglobin 14.2
TC 12,750
Platlet Count 1.75
Polymorphs 78
Lymphocytes 20
Eosinophilis 01
Monocytes 01
ESR(1/2 hr) 02
ESR(1 hr) 05mm

Prothrombin Time 16.3

Total Bilirubin .6
Direct Bilirubin .2
Indirect Bilirubin .4

Serum Protein
Total Protein 7.1
Albumin 4.0
Globulin 3.1
A/G Ratio 1.2:1

Enzymes
SGOT 23
SGPT 42
SALP 190

HIV 1 & 2 Negative

He stays in India and he wanted me to search for information on the net. Could anybody tell me how serious is this for him?

I browsed thru the net and came to know that HCV-Genotype2 is curable.

Kindly advice.

--Kamal.

[Doctor]

Dear kamal1981,

In people with confirmed Hepatitis C infection, genotype testing is generally recommended which reflects the variation in the genetic makeup of the virus. There are six major genotypes and many more subtypes of the hepatitis C virus exist, which are indicated numerically (e.g., genotype 1, genotype 2, etc.). HCV genotype testing is used to determine the required length and potential response to interferon-based therapy.

People with genotypes 2 and 3 are almost three times more likely to respond to therapy than those with genotype 1.

Several factors influence the success of hepatitis C treatment. Individuals with genotype 2 or 3 hepatitis C tend to fare better. Likewise, individuals with lower viral loads and little to no liver damage respond more favorably to treatment. Women, individuals under 40 years of age, and those who abstain from alcohol experience treatment success more frequently as well. Please see the attached .PDF documents for detail.

kamal1981, please ask your friend to consult with a hepatologist and start the treatment as I said above genotype 2 has better response to the therapy.

All the best.

[kamal1981]

Doctor,

Thanks for the information. I would like to add one more detail to his results.

His genotype is now identified as 6k.

And I am not able to find any detail about type 6k on the internet.

Will the ribavirin and interferon treatment respond to genotype 6k???

Thanks and Regards,
Kamal