Clinical characteristics of patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotypes A, B, and C.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics at first hospital consultation, according to the genotype of hepatitis B virus (HBV), in patients with chronic liver diseases and positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in metropolitan Tokyo.


METHODS
The subjects consisted of 1077 patients with chronic liver diseases who were HBsAg-positive. HBV genotype was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using PreS2 monoclonal antibody, which is specific for HBV genotypes in the PreS2 region.


RESULTS
The proportion of patients with genotype A was 2% (20 patients), genotype, B 9% (101 patients), and genotype C, 88% (945 patients), while 11 patients (1.0%) had other genotypes, including 2 (0.2%) each with genotypes D and F, and 7 (0.6%) that were untypeable. Patients with genotype A were significantly (P = 0.049) more likely to be positive for Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) at the first consultation compared with those with genotype B. Patients with genotype B were significantly more likely to be HBeAg-negative at the first consultation compared with those with genotype A (P = 0.049) and genotype C (P = 0.001), significantly more likely to show minimal hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.003), and least likely to develop liver cirrhosis (P = 0.005). Patients with genotype C were likely to be HBeAg-positive (P = 0.001) and to have a positive family history of HBV infection (P = 0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical features of patients with HBV infection in metropolitan Tokyo varied depending on the HBV genotype.
Kobayashi
Mariko
M
Research Institute for Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.
Arase
Yasuji
Y
Ikeda
Kenji
K
Tsubota
Akihito
A
Suzuki
Yoshiyuki
Y
Saitoh
Satoshi
S
Kobayashi
Masahiro
M
Suzuki
Fumitaka
F
Akuta
Norio
N
Someya
Takashi
T
Matsuda
Marie
M
Sato
Junko
J
Kumada
Hiromitsu
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014041:Tokyo
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens