To perform a descriptive analysis of patients with chronic hepatitis C based on a local registry of liver biopsies.

Collection of clinical, biological and histological data from all HCV-infected patients who underwent liver biopsy between January 1997 and December 1998 in the Alpes-Maritimes (France).

One thousand and fifty six patients including 924 who lived in the Alpes-Maritimes (515 male, 409 female, mean age: 44.9 years old) were included. Intravenous drug use (30.1%) was the major suspected source of infection before blood transfusion (28.2%). Among intravenous drug users, 38% of patients were infected with genotype 1a and 37.4% with genotype 3. The METAVIR fibrosis severity score was distributed as follows: F0: 10.8%, F1: 53.7%, F2: 15.9%, F3: 14.7%, and F4: 4.9%. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for the duration of infection, independent risk factors associated with the severity of fibrosis were age at contamination >= 30 years, genotype other than 1a and alcohol intake >= 50 g/day. Determination of HCV antibody and liver biopsy were performed an average of 12.5 and 14 years after presumed date of contamination, respectively.

These data provide a clearer view of the impact of this condition in this area and could help to define a comprehensive policy for patient management .