title: Significance of hepatitis B genotype in acute exacerbation, HBeAg seroconversion, cirrhosis-related complications, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The pathologic role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype in Chinese patients with HBV infection is largely unknown. We examined the relationship between HBV genotypes, and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, acute exacerbation, cirrhosis-related complications, and precore/core promoter mutations. Three hundred forty-three HBV patients (288 were asymptomatic, 55 presented with cirrhosis-related complications) were recruited. HBV genotypes and precore/core promoter mutations were determined by line probe assays. Genotypes B and C were the 2 most common genotypes, contributing 28% and 60%, respectively. The median age of HBeAg seroconversion for patients with genotype B was 9 years earlier than patients with genotype C (P =.011). There were no differences in the liver biochemistry, HBV DNA level, and cumulative risk of acute exacerbation (defined as increased alanine aminotransferase level > or =1.5 x upper limit of normal) between patients with genotypes B and C. There was a trend for patients with genotype B to have a higher cumulative rate of HBeAg seroconversion compared with patients with genotype C at the initial follow-up of 6 years (P =.053), but this difference became insignificant during subsequent follow-up. The prevalence of both genotypes was the same in patients with and without cirrhosis-related complications and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Genotype B was associated with precore mutations (P <.0001), whereas genotype C was associated with core promoter mutations (P <.0001). In conclusion, although patients with genotype B had earlier HBeAg seroconversion, there was no significant reduction in the risk of development of complications. Genotypes B and C are associated with high prevalence of precore and core promoter mutations, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sablon
authors.forename: He-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Danny Ka-Ho
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Chee-Kin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Benjamin Chun-Yu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Annie On-On
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ching Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens