HCV Genotype 3 is Associated with an Increased Risk of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Cancer in a National Sample of U.S. Veterans with HCV

Hepatology

Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in future.)

Research Article

Fasiha Kanwal^1,2,*, Jennifer R. Kramer^1,3,  Jawad Ilyas², Zhigang Duan³, Hashem B. El-Serag^1,2

DOI: 10.1002/hep.27095

Copyright © 2014 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

Publication History
Accepted manuscript online: 24 FEB 2014 09:44PM EST
Manuscript Accepted: 20 FEB 2014
Manuscript Revised: 4 FEB 2014
Manuscript Received: 19 NOV 2013

Keywords: Cohort;  longitudinal;  Veterans Administration;  viral factors;  association

ABSTRACT

Data show that viral genotype 1 may increase the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to genotype 2 in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the effect of HCV genotype 3 on cirrhosis and HCC risk is uncertain. We identified patients with active HCV infection, confirmed by positive PCR and a known HCV genotype, from the VA HCV Clinical Case Registry between 2000 and 2009. We examined the effect of HCV genotype on the risk of cirrhosis and HCC in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for patients’ age, period of service (World War I/II, Vietnam era, post-Vietnam era), race, gender, HIV infection,alcohol use, diabetes, body mass index, and antiviral treatment receipt. Of the 110,484 patients with active HCV viremia, 88,348 (79.9%) had genotype 1, 13,077 (11.8%) genotype 2, 8337 (7.5%) genotype 3, and 1082 (0.9%) patients had genotype 4 infection. Despite being younger, patients with genotype 3 had a higher risk of developing cirrhosis (unadjusted hazard ratio, HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.32-1.50) and HCC (unadjusted HR=1.66, 95% CI=1.48-1.85) than HCV genotype 1 patients. After adjustment for pre-specified demographic, clinical, and antiviral treatment factors, the risk of cirrhosis and HCC was 31% (adjusted HR=1.31, 95% CI=1.22-1.39) and 80% (adjusted HR=1.80, 95%CI=1.61-2.03) higher in patients with genotype 3 compared to genotype 1 infected patients. Conclusion: HCV genotype 3 is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing cirrhosis and HCC compared to HCV genotype 1. This association is independent of patients’ age, diabetes, body mass index, or antiviral treatment. (Hepatology 2014;)

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