[Prognosis and related risk factors for 465 subjects infected with hepatitis C virus in Danyang, Jiangsu province].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and viral load of persons infected with HCV and the risk factors for severe outcomes. Methods: Medical testing and questionnaire survey were conducted on 465 cases who were infected with HCV, 20-30 years back. HCV RNA, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin, globulin and bilirubin were tested for these subjects. Factors as demography, tobacco and alcohol consumption, SNP of rs7453920 and rs2856718 on HLA-DQ gene of subjects with HCV RNA, were analyzed by multiple logistic regression method to explore the risk factors for severe outcomes among the patients. Result: Totally, 465 subjects had symptoms as hypodynamic (15.70%, 73/465), digestive system (17.63%, 82/465), and arthrodynia (10.32%, 48/465). HCV RNA was positive in 68.60% (319/465) of the subjects with median viral load as 76.01×10(4) copies/ml (min-max: 592 copies/ml -1.08×10(10) copies/ml). Totally, 11.83% (55/465) of the cases appeared having liver inflammation by routine ultrasound exams. ALT and AST was seen higher than 80 (IU/L) in 12.70% (59/465) and 11.18% (52/465) of the subjects, separately. Factors as being male (OR =2.298, 95%CI: 1.247-4.238), GA genotype compared with AA type in rs2856718 (OR=1.716, 95%CI: 1.070-2.752), alcohol intake ≥7 times per-week (OR=2.966, 95% CI: 0.979-8.988) etc., were independently related to HCV RNA sustained positivity. Factors as: being male (OR=1.694, 95%CI: 0.975-2.942), in 50-59 years age group (OR=2.414, 95%CI: 1.156-5.042), having other liver diseases (OR=2.592, 95% CI: 1.105-6.079) and carrying positive HCV RNA (OR=3.479, 95% CI: 1.648-7.343) etc. were independent risk factors for abnormal liver function. Conclusion: High rates of carrying sustained positive HCV RNA and abnormal liver function appeared in subjects who got the HCV infection 20-30 years ago. Factors as being male, in old age, being frequent alcohol taker, GA genotype in rs2856718 and with other liver diseases etc. were related to higher risk for developing severe outcomes.