title: Role of hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic hepatitis B exacerbation.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and precore and core promoter mutations were determined in 318 patients with HBV. Patients infected with HBV genotype B had a higher median alanine aminotransferase level and bilirubin level and a lower median albumin level during exacerbations of disease, compared with patients infected with HBV genotype C (all P<.001). By logistic regression analysis, HBV genotype B infection (P=.014) and low albumin levels (P=.006) were independently associated with a higher risk of hepatic decompensation during severe exacerbations of disease. Patients infected with genotype B had a significantly higher mortality due to hepatic decompensation than did patients with genotype C (70% vs. 27.8%; P=.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sablon
authors.forename: Danny Ka-Ho
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: He-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
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; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin