title: Preliminary report of hepatitis B virus genotype prevalence in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Iranian hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, chronic hepatitis B and cirrhotic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 109 HBsAg-positive patients were included in this study. HBV genotypes were determined by using INNO-LiPA methodology which is based on the reverse hybridization principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of patients with different stages of liver disease was as follows: 95(86.4%) chronic hepatitis, 11(10%) liver cirrhosis, and 3(2.7%) inactive carrier. Of the chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis patients, 26.4% were HBeAg-positive while 70% were HBeAg-negative. Genotype D was the only detected type found in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Classifying HBV into genotypes has to be cost-effective and clinically relevant. Our study indicates that HBV genotype D prevails in the Mediterranean area, Near and Middle East, and South Asia. Continued efforts for understanding HBV genotype through international co-operation will reveal further virological differences of the genotypes and their clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Baqiatollah Medical University, Tehran Hepatitis Center, Iran. manager@iranhepgroup.info
authors.forename: Seyed-Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezai
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashayeri
authors.forename: Homa Mohammad
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization