Prevalence of the hepatitis C virus NS3 polymorphism Q80K in genotype 1 patients in the European region

Antiviral Res. 2015 Apr:116:10-6. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.01.003. Epub 2015 Jan 19.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 polymorphism Q80K is mainly found in patients with HCV genotype (G) 1a, and has been associated with a reduced treatment response to simeprevir with pegylated interferon (P) and ribavirin (R). Prevalence of Q80K among G1 patients may vary geographically. Q80K prevalence in the North-American G1 population in a recent study was 34%. We conducted a post hoc meta-analysis of Q80K polymorphism prevalence among HCV G1-infected patients enrolled in simeprevir and telaprevir Phase II/III studies. Baseline HCV NS3/4A protease sequences were analysed by population sequencing to determine Q80K prevalence. Overall, of 3349 patients from 25 countries in the European region analysed, 35.8%, 63.8% and 0.3% of patients had G1a, G1b and other/unknown HCV G1 subtypes, respectively. Q80K was detected at baseline in 7.5% of HCV G1 patients overall. Examination by subtype showed that 19.8%, 0.5% and 18.2% of patients with G1a, G1b and other/unknown HCV G1 subtypes had the Q80K polymorphism, respectively. Among countries in the European region with sequencing data available for either ⩾20 patients with G1a and/or ⩾40 G1 patients overall, the Q80K prevalence in G1 ranged from 0% in Bulgaria to 18.2% in the UK. Q80K prevalence also varied within G1a across different countries. HCV subtype 1a was correctly determined in 99% of patients by the LiPA v2 assay. A low overall prevalence of Q80K was observed in HCV G1-infected patients in the European region, compared with North America. However, the prevalence varied by country, due to differing ratios of G1a/G1b and differing Q80K prevalence within the G1a populations.

Keywords: Hepatitis C; NS3/4A protease; Prevalence; Q80K polymorphism; Simeprevir; Virology.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • North America / epidemiology
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Prevalence
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Simeprevir / therapeutic use
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Oligopeptides
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • telaprevir
  • Simeprevir