1. Clinical Characteristics of Foreign Chronic Hepatitis C Patients.
- Author
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Suk bae Kim, Il Han Song, Sae Whan Lee, Hong Soo Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Young Woo Kang, Seok Hyun Kim, Byung Seok Lee, Hee Bok Chae, and Seok Hwan Kim
- Subjects
CHRONIC hepatitis C ,HEPATITIS C ,WOMEN patients - Abstract
Background/Aims The number of foreigners living in Korea has increased more recently, and the survey on chronic hepatitis C among foreigners is still almost nonexistent. The authors wanted to analyze foreign chronic hepatitis C patients to find out their clinical characteristics. Methods From January 2000 to December 2018, foreign chronic hepatitis C patients who visited six hospitals in the Daejeon Chungcheong area were analyzed. Results Total 217 patients were enrolled which is consisted of 90 male patients and 127 female patients. Their mean age was 49.3±12.6 years. By country, China topped the list with 109 people (50.2%), followed by North Korea with 48 (22.1%), Mongolia with 18 (8.3%), Uzbekistan with 10 (4.6%) and Russia with six (2.8%). Genotype 2 were the most common with 99 patients (45.6%) and genotype 1 was the second largest with 91 patients (41.9%). Genotype 3 was the third largest with 14 patients (6.5%), while genotype 6a was found in one patient (0.5%). Of the 217 patients, 154 patients (71.0%) received treatment. Eighty-four patients (54.5%) treated with interferon agents and 70 patients (45.5%) with direct-acting antivirals drugs. Sovaldi+ribavirin (29 patients) was used most, followed by daklinza+sunvepra (16 patients) and zepatier (16 patients). Viekirax+exviera, harvoni and maviret were used in three patients each. Of the 154 patients treated, 103 tested for sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) and 83 patients showed positive SVR12. Eighteen patients used interferon agents and one each used daklinza+sunvepra and zepatier, respectively, for 20 patients who failed to achieve SVR12. Conclusions The number of foreign chronic hepatitis C patients has increased significantly, especially since 2013. Unlike Korea, genotype 2 has more than genotype 1 and genotype 3 also takes up a certain portion, which requires publicity and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019