Hepatitis C virus in Slovenia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary etiologic agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. HCV is strongly associated with cirrhosis playing a major role in the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagnosis of HCV infection relies primarily on detecting antibodies to HCV in patients sera by screening enzyme immunoassays and confirmatory immunoblot assays. One of the few methods which can at present provide direct evidence for HCV viremia is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which allows detection of viral genome sequences. On the basis of the recently proposed classification for distinction between different HCV isolates, at least 6 major genotypes and several subtypes have been described, which seem to have a distinct geographical distribution, clinical outcome and response to treatment. The aim of our research project is to improve virological diagnostic of hepatitis C, to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection in different high risk groups of patients in Slovenia, to asses HCV transmission routes and spread in different communities. Finally, we want to determine genetic variability of Slovenian HCV isolates and viral load in Slovenian HCV infected patients and define the role of HCV genotype and viral load in clinical outcome of HCV infection and its response to treatment. The results of our study will provide a rationale and appropriate policy on diagnosis, follow up and treatment of HCV infection, helpful for definition of common criteria of data interpretation and to develop harmonized standard. It will asses the clinical significance of viral factors as prognostic marker to predict evolution of the disease and to define the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.