Hepatitis C is a type of infection that primarily affects the liver. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the cause of this disease. Hepatitis C often has no symptoms, but chronic infection can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis after several years. In some cases, individuals with cirrhosis of the liver also have liver failure, liver cancer, or varices in the esophagus and stomach, the latter of which can lead to life-threatening bleeding. In this study, we intend to investigate the prevalence of different genotypes based on variables such as age, gender, history of surgery, history of injection drug use, and other risk factors.

The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on all patients with HCV attending a specialized gastroenterology clinic in Khorramabad city during the years 2007-2017. In this study, patients with positive HCV Ab by ELISA and confirmed by PCR, as well as their genotype determined by PCR, were included. The medical records of these patients were reviewed, and information related to age, gender, history of surgery, potential disease risk factors, and virus genotype were extracted and analysed

: In the present study, 75 patients with hepatitis C were investigated for the prevalence of different virus genotypes. The mean age of the patients was 46.4±12.6 years. Among the patients, 63 (84%) were male and 12 (16%) were female. None of the patients had a history of thalassemia, hemophilia, or undergoing hemodialysis. 30 patients (40%) had genotype 1a, 4 patients (5.3%) had genotype 1b, 38 patients (50.7%) had genotype 3a, and 3 patients (4%) had non-typable genotypes. 43 patients (53.7%) had a history of injection drug use, and 13 patients (17.3%) had a history of blood and blood product injection. 8% of the patients had a positive family history of hepatitis C, and 37.3% of the patients had a history of tattooing. 18.7% of the patients had a history of previous surgery. There was a statistically significant association between genotype 3a and a history of injection drug use (P=0.03) and a history of tattooing (P=0.048).

: According to the results of the present study, the majority of individuals were male, and the most prevalent genotype was 3a, which was consistent with most studies within the country. Following that, the prevalence was in the order of 1a, 1b, and non-typable genotypes. The most common risk factor was injection drug use, followed by tattooing. Although there were also histories of surgery, positive family history of hepatitis C, and blood transfusion. Considering the high prevalence of genotype 3a in Lorestan province, the cost and duration of hepatitis C treatment, the side effects of drugs, and the fact that the treatment duration for genotypes 2 and 3 is at least six months shorter than other genotypes in previous interferon-based treatments, and they have a better treatment response and longer sustained virological response (SVR), and in new treatments, genotype 3a has an unfavorable response in some studies.