title: Epidemiological study of hepatitis B virus genotypes, core promoter and precore mutations of chronic hepatitis B infection in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a population study to document the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV genotypes, core promoter (CP) and precore mutations were determined in 776 asymptomatic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  92.6% patients had single genotype [B (32.5%), C (62.5%)]. 99.1% of genotype B was subtype Ba. Patients with age <50 years had a lower prevalence of genotype B than patients with age >51 years (32.5% vs. 41%, respectively, P=0.028). Compared to patients with genotype C, patients with genotype B had a higher cumulative rate (P=0.018) and younger age (40.1 vs. 34.2 years, respectively, P=0.018) of HBeAg seroconversion. There were no differences in the HBV DNA levels between patients with genotypes B and C, and with wild-type and mutants of CP and precore regions. By multivariate analysis, patients with genotype C and with CP mutations had higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  B and C were the two most common HBV genotypes in Hong Kong. The former had a higher chance of earlier HBeAg seroconversion and lower ALT levels. The prevalence of genotype B was lower in patients with age <50, probably related to influx of immigrants from China since 1949.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sablon
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doutreloigne
authors.forename: He-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Danny Ka-Ho
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Siu-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation; D015995:Prevalence; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012709:Serum Albumin
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin