Changing of hepatitis C virus genotype patterns in France at the beginning of the third millenium: The GEMHEP GenoCII Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate, during a short period between 2000 and 2001, in a large population of patients with chronic hepatitis C, the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in France. Data from 26 referral centres, corresponding to 1769 patients with chronic hepatitis C were collected consecutively during a 6-month period. HCV genotyping in the 5'-non-coding region (NCR) was performed in each center using the line probe assay (LiPA, in 63% of cases), sequencing (25%) or primer-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (12%).

Significance of hepatitis C virus coinfection with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels in HIV-1-infected patients.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in HIV-1-infected patients, together with its clinical, biological and histological characteristics and predictive factors.

Methods: We retrospectively studied all HCV/HIV-coinfected patients treated in our Infectious Diseases Department, for whom data on both HIV and HCV infection were available. We compared the demographic characteristics and parameters of HIV and HCV infection between cases, defined by persistently normal ALT levels (<45 IU/L) and detectable serum HCV-RNA (determined by PCR), and controls with high ALT levels and HCV PCR positivity during the previous 3 years.

Expertise of French laboratories in detection, genotyping, and quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA in serum.

Before initiating new large-scale therapeutic trials for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients, the French Health Authorities for HCV research decided to organize an evaluation of the expertise of laboratories that could be engaged to undertake molecular biology assays in such trials; 21 experienced laboratories participated in this national evaluation of laboratory expertise, which was performed in two successive rounds. The first round evaluated the laboratories for their abilities to detect HCV RNA in serum, determine genotypes, and quantify HCV RNA loads. The results observed by qualitative assays for HCV RNA detection were 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for all laboratories.

Occurrence of acute hepatitis A in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

We conducted a descriptive study in 9 cases of acute hepatitis A diagnosed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite the small number of cases studied, the results indicate that moderate HIV infection does not impair the natural history of acute hepatitis A.