Menally-Ill
02-14-2003, 11:37 AM
Hep C is like a family of viruses that closely resemble each other. Each is called a genotype.
It is kind of like "dogs" includes poodles, spaniels and St. Bernards.
And just like dogs, some genotypes are big and powerful, and some are "weaker".
So far scientists have identified 22 genotypes. Several occur only in specific parts of the world.
They are called:
1a - most prevalent in North America and Australia.
1b - This one is a very strong one, often regarded as most particularly condusive to liver disease. It occurs mostly in Europe and Asia.
1c -
2a - Mostly occurs in China and Japan.
2b - In the U.S. and Northern Europe.
2c - This is most prevalent in Western and Southern Europe.
3a - 40% of all cases in Australia is this genotype. It is the most easily controlled version of Hep C, and readily goes into remission. (I actually have a dear friend in Australia, who has been Hep Free for three years, who was a 3a!)
3b - Mostly in Australia and South Asia.
4a - Occurs in Egypt.
4b -
4c - In Central Africa.
4d -
4e -
5a -
6a - In Hong Kong, Macau and Viet Nam.
7a - In Thailand.
7b - In Thailand.
8a - In Viet Nam.
8b - In Viet Nam.
9a - In Viet Nam.
10a - In Indonesia.
11a - In Indonesia.
The test to find out your genotype is NOT easily available. It is very expensive, and is a difficult lab test to perform. Most labs CANNOT do it.
BUT, there is not much real reason to get it done. Genotypes are NOT scientificly linked to the degree of severity of the illness. There are too many variables that can make your Hep C progress more quickly, such as alcohol use, bad diets, exposure to chemicals etc.
Also, since some genotypes do NOT seem to respond as readily to treatment with interferon, a movement is building to NOT do genotype testing, in case it will lead to doctor's deciding to withhold treatment entirely , based on a patient having the "wrong" (lesser treatable) genotype.
Since Hep C is a mutating virus, a person can contract one genotype, only to find out a few years later that it has mutated in their own body, into one of the other genotypes. When such a mutation occurs within one patient, it is called a quasi-species.
You can also be infected with more than one genotype, at once, when you contract Hep C. Usually, this occurs in someone who got their Hep, from shared needles. If more than one Hep C positive person used the syringe, you can get ALL their versions at once!
It is kind of like "dogs" includes poodles, spaniels and St. Bernards.
And just like dogs, some genotypes are big and powerful, and some are "weaker".
So far scientists have identified 22 genotypes. Several occur only in specific parts of the world.
They are called:
1a - most prevalent in North America and Australia.
1b - This one is a very strong one, often regarded as most particularly condusive to liver disease. It occurs mostly in Europe and Asia.
1c -
2a - Mostly occurs in China and Japan.
2b - In the U.S. and Northern Europe.
2c - This is most prevalent in Western and Southern Europe.
3a - 40% of all cases in Australia is this genotype. It is the most easily controlled version of Hep C, and readily goes into remission. (I actually have a dear friend in Australia, who has been Hep Free for three years, who was a 3a!)
3b - Mostly in Australia and South Asia.
4a - Occurs in Egypt.
4b -
4c - In Central Africa.
4d -
4e -
5a -
6a - In Hong Kong, Macau and Viet Nam.
7a - In Thailand.
7b - In Thailand.
8a - In Viet Nam.
8b - In Viet Nam.
9a - In Viet Nam.
10a - In Indonesia.
11a - In Indonesia.
The test to find out your genotype is NOT easily available. It is very expensive, and is a difficult lab test to perform. Most labs CANNOT do it.
BUT, there is not much real reason to get it done. Genotypes are NOT scientificly linked to the degree of severity of the illness. There are too many variables that can make your Hep C progress more quickly, such as alcohol use, bad diets, exposure to chemicals etc.
Also, since some genotypes do NOT seem to respond as readily to treatment with interferon, a movement is building to NOT do genotype testing, in case it will lead to doctor's deciding to withhold treatment entirely , based on a patient having the "wrong" (lesser treatable) genotype.
Since Hep C is a mutating virus, a person can contract one genotype, only to find out a few years later that it has mutated in their own body, into one of the other genotypes. When such a mutation occurs within one patient, it is called a quasi-species.
You can also be infected with more than one genotype, at once, when you contract Hep C. Usually, this occurs in someone who got their Hep, from shared needles. If more than one Hep C positive person used the syringe, you can get ALL their versions at once!