Table 1

Patients characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 and 3 infections (n = 275).

Characteristic
Genotype 1 (n = 163)
Genotype 3 (n = 112)
p value

n (%)
n (%)


Male
114 (69.9)
87 (77.7)
0.15
Age (median range, yr)
43.0 (25–69)
42.5 (17–67)
0.70
Risk factor for HCV infection*



     Intravenous energetic drug
23 (14.1)
30 (26.8)
0.008
     Blood transfusion
47 (28.8)
24 (21.4)
0.17
     Intravenous illicit drug use
22 (13.5)
22 (19.6)
0.17
     Unknown risk
58 (34.5)
31(27.7)
0.16
     Others**
18 (11.0)
11 (9.8)
0.75
ALT (median)
62.0
81.5
0.003
AST (median)
47.0
65.0
0.001
GT (median)
61.0
70.0
0.58
Positive cryoglobulin
88 (54.0)
80 (71.4)
0.001

*Eleven patients had two risk factors

** Others includes intranasal use of cocaine, tattoing, body piercing, accidental needle-stick injury

Reference ranges: ALT (alanine aminotransferase): 6–40 U/L; AST (aspartate aminotransferase): 6–40 U/L; 3/4GT (glutamyl transferase): 9–40 U/L

Vigani et al. BMC Infectious Diseases 2008 8:164   doi:10.1186/1471-2334-8-164