title: Hepatitis B virus of genotype C persistence after recovery from acute hepatitis B virus infection in Japan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Zhi Mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yatsuhashi
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daikoku
authors.forename: Rumiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Rumiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Michitami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yano