Clinical and Paraclinical Profiles of Patients with Viral Hepatitis C in Cotonou

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces the occurence of severe chronic liver disease and metabolic complications. Our goal was to study the clinical and paraclinical profile of patients with hepatitis C virus at the Natioanl Teaching Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at the Teaching Clinic of Hepato-Gastroenterology of the Natioanl Teaching Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou with the treated patients, from January 1, 2012, to October 31, 2018. Results: A total of 80 patients with hepatitis C were included in the study. The mean age was 60.2 ± 10.8 years old with extremes of 34 and 84 years. Most of the subjects surveyed were women (62.5%) with a sex ratio of 0.6. Arterial hypertension was the prevalent history in these patients (61.2%). HCV carriage was known for less than 5 years in 70% of cases. The most represented genotype was viral genotype 2 (57.2%). Complications were noted in 47.5% of respondents, dominated by cirrhosis (40%). FibroTest was the main method of non-invasive evaluation of fibrosis. Conclusion: In our study, hepatitis C affects mostly women. It is often diagnosed late. Hence, there is a real need to reinforce awareness.