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KMID : 0614620080510060360
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Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2008 Volume.51 No. 6 p.360 ~ p.367
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Current Status and Clinical Course of Hepatitis C Virus in Korea
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Kwon Jung-Hyun
Bae Si-Hyun
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Abstract
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The mortality due to chronic liver disease, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranks as
one of the highest in Korea. The prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections
in the general Korean population are approximately 1 and 5%, respectively. Blood transfusion was the
strongest risk factor for the transmission of HCV infection. Therefore, the evaluation of risk factors for HCV infection
including blood transfusion, intravenous drug user, hemophilia, and hemodialysis, is important. The most
prevalent HCV genotype is 1b followed by 2a. The annual incidence of HCC among HCV-related liver cirrhosis
has been estimated at 5%, and approximately 12% of HCC is attributable to HCV and 68% to HBV in Korea.
HCV infection is more closely associated with HCC in elderly patients than HBV-related HCC. Even though the
prevalence of anti-HCV in Korea has been reduced and the risk of HCV transmission through blood transfusion
has markedly decreased, public-health programs to prevent de novo infections should be developed. This review
describes the HCV prevalence and risk factors among the general population, and the distribution of HCV genotypes
as well as the clinical course of HCV in Korea. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2008;51:360-367)
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KEYWORD
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Hepatitis C virus, Chronic Liver disease, Natural history
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