title: Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis B in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains isolated worldwide has been classified into eight genomic groups deduced from genome comparisons and designated as genotypes A to H. We aimed to investigate prevalence of HBV genotypes and subtypes in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients from 15 hospitals throughout the country were included. Patients who were HBsAg positive in serum at least for 6 mo, who had HBV-DNA in serum and elevation of ALT levels more than two times upper limit of normal, and who had percutaneous liver biopsy within 6 mo were included. Genotyping of HBV was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The patients received subcutaneous 9 MU interferon-alpha 2a thrice a week for a period of 6 mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype D was detected in 78 of 88 (88.7%) patients, however, genotyping failed in two patients (2.3%), while no product was obtained in eight (9.0%) patients. Regarding subtypes, D2 was more prevalent (67 patients between 78% and 85.9%) followed by subtype D2+deletion (seven patients of 78 or 8.9%), subtype D1 (three patients of 78% or 3.9%) and subtype D3 (one patient of 78% or 1.3%). Thirty-three patients (37.5%) were HBeAg positive compared to 55 (62.5%) anti-HBe positive patients. The endpoint for the viral response of HBeAg positive patients was 27.2%, while it was found 52.7% in HBeAg negative patients (P<0.05). Long-term persistent viral response was 29.5% for all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This multi-center study indicates that the predominant genotype with CHB patients in Turkey like in other Mediterranean countries is genotype D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Samsun, Turkey. msunbul@omu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunbul
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leblebicioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins