Precore and core promoter mutations of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of precore/core promoter mutations and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (e-CHB) in Korea.


METHODS
Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were tested for HBeAg, anti-HBe, liver profile and HBV-DNA by a branched DNA (bDNA) assay. Serum HBV-DNA was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction and the precore/core promoter sequence was determined.


RESULTS
Among the 413 consecutive HBeAg-negative patients, 19.6% were bDNA-positive. Evidence of liver disease was found in 90.1% of bDNA-positive and 41.7% of bDNA-negative patients. Overall, 17.7% of HBeAg-negative patients had e-CHB. Precore mutation (A1896) was detected in 93.7% of HBeAg-negative bDNA-positive and 93.9% of HBeAg-negative bDNA-negative patients. In 59 HBeAg-positive patients, 78% had wild-type and 22% had a mixture of wild-type and A1896 mutant. Core promoter TA mutation was detected in 89.9% of HBeAg-negative bDNA-positive patients, 89.8% of HBeAg-negative bDNA-negative patients, and 74.6% of HBeAg-positive patients. No correlation was found between the presence of precore/core promoter mutations and HBV-DNA levels or disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
In Korean patients infected with HBV genotype C, precore mutation occurred almost invariably along with HBeAg seroconversion and core promoter TA mutation was frequent irrespective of viral replication levels or disease severity.
Yoo
Byung Chul
BC
Division of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. bcyoo@smc.samsung.co.kr
Park
Joong-Won
JW
Kim
Hyung Joon
HJ
Lee
Dong Ho
DH
Cha
Young Ju
YJ
Park
Sill Moo
SM
D000225:Adenine; D000328:Adult; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013941:Thymine; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D003062:Codon; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D000225:Adenine; D013941:Thymine