CaRaCteRIzaçãO de UMa pOpUlaçãO InfeCtada COM O víRUS da HepatIte C CHaRaCteRIzatIOn Of a pOpUlatIOn InfeCted WItH HepatItIS C víRUS

It is estimated that, worldwide, Hepatitis C virus infects chronically, from 130 million to 170 million people. In Portugal we don't know for sure the number of infected people. The study was conducted retrospectively collecting data till 2010 and involved data from 121 randomly chosen patients. It was possible to evaluate different variables that allowed us to have a general approach of the disease and this population. The average age in this population was 36.4 years, with a low socioeconomic status, 48%, of the patients, abandoned the consults of the specialty, 70% were intravenous drug users. Genotype 1 and 3 were the most prevalent as well as subtypes 1b and 3a. 16.9%, of the patients, were coinfected with HIV1, in 4.8% was detected HBsAg and in 48.2% Ac anti-HBc. 37% of the patients were treated, and 49% of these were unresponsive to treatment. In recent years there was an increment in the prevalence of patients infected with genotype 3. Hepatic fibrosis has increased over the time course of the disease and more quickly in patients infected with genotype 3. The SGPT / ALT appears to be a tool to use in early diagnosis and monitoring of patients. The average age of deceased patients was 51 years