Hepatitis C infection at a tertiary hospital in South Africa: Clinical presentation, non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis, and response to therapy.

Background: Hepatitis C is a viral infection that leads to chronic liver disease, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To describe the demographic characteristics and clinical presentation of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and the fibrosis index based on 4 factors (FIB-4) were assessed for prediction of liver fibrosis.

Naturally occurring resistance mutations within the core and NS5B regions in hepatitis C genotypes, particularly genotype 5a, in South Africa.

Approximately 1 million South Africans are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The standard of care (SOC) in South Africa is combination therapy (pegylated interferon and ribavirin). HCV genotypes and/or mutations in the core/non-structural regions have been associated with response to therapy and/or disease progression.