Hepatitis B virus of genotype C persistence after recovery from acute hepatitis B virus infection in Japan.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: this study aimed to determine the viremia status after clinical, biochemical and serological recovery from acute hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. METHODS: we detected serum HBV-DNA in 19 patients with acute hepatitis B during followed-up 6-43 months after onset, and analyzed HBV genotypes. RESULTS: 13 (72%) of 19 patients had detectable HBV DNA at the point of 6 months after onset, and four (33%) of 12 patients had persisted viremia for more than 1 year although they were recovery with normalization of alanine transaminase (ALT), disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and appearance of antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs). Eighteen (95%) of 19 patients were infected with HBV genotype C, one (5%) with genotype B. CONCLUSIONS: these results suggest genotype C of HBV is the predominant genotype of acute hepatitis B in Nagasaki region in Japan. HBV can persist in the serum for more than one year after complete clinical and serological recovery from acute viral hepatitis.
Lin
Zhi Mei
ZM
Institute for Clinical Research, National Nagasaki Medical Center, WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis, Kubara 2-1001-1 Omura, 856-0835, Nagasaki-ken, Japan
Yatsuhashi
Hiroshi
H
Daikoku
Manabu
M
Hamada
Rumiko
R
Nakao
Rumiko
R
Fukuda
Mika
M
Koga
Michiaki
M
Yano
Michitami
M