Prevalence of hepatitis C virus mutants resistant to protease inhibitors among Polish HCV genotype 1-infected patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) harbouring mutations associated with decreased susceptibility to protease inhibitors (Boceprevir/Telaprevir) among Polish untreated patients infected with HCV genotype 1.Population sequencing was used, sequencing data were interpreted by web based geno2pheno algorithm. A total of 91 serum samples were obtained from patients infected with HCV genotype 1, admitting Outpatient Clinics of Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Warsaw.Sequencing analysis of the NS3 protease catalytic domain was successful in 85 out of 91 subjects. In seventy three (85.9%) out of 85 samples wild-type HCV was detected; in 12 (14.1%) samples mutations associated with clinically observed Boceprevir/Telaprevir-decreased susceptibility were detected.Obtained results document the presence of HCV strains harbouring protease inhibitors (PIs) resistance-associated mutations among Polish therapy-naïve patients. The determined prevalence of drug resistant HCV variants is 14.1%. Further and continuous surveillance is necessary to estimate how preexisting and emerging drug resistance mutations influence clinical outcome in triple-therapy experienced patients.