[The relationships among HBV genotypes, HBV DNA levels and histopathological features in the livers of familial grouped hepatitis B patients in the Tianjin area].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the relationships among HBV genotypes, HBV DNA levels and histopathological features of the livers of familial grouped hepatitis B patients in the Tianjin area.


METHODS
One hundred familial grouped hepatitis B (CHB) patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty-five of the 100 patients were chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (ASC) and 65/100 were mild CHB patients. Their HBV genotypes and HBV-DNA levels were detected and liver biopsies were performed for analyzing the pathological features.


RESULTS
Seven patients were of HBV genotype B (7%), and most of them had a HBV DNA level in the middle 10(3-5) copies/ml (57.14%). The histopathological features of the livers were of different degrees of injury. Eleven patients HBV was of genotype BC (11%); their HBV DNA levels were from 10(3-5) copies/ml (45.45%) to 10(6-7)copies/ml (36.36%). Their liver pathology showed slight or severe injuries (< or = G2 90.91%, < or = S(2) 81.82%). Eighty-two patients HBV was of genotype C (82%), and among the 82, 29 were ASC and 53 were CHB. Among the ASC, most of them had a high HBV DNA level (72.41%), and all of them had different degrees of liver injury. Among the CHB, their HBV DNA levels were 10(6-7) copies/ml (39.62%) and more than or equal 10(8) copies/ml (49.06%). The liver histopathological features were > or = G(2) in 38 patients (71.70%), and > or = S(2) in 25 patients (47.17%).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) In the majority, HBV of the family gathered hepatitis B patients living in Tianjin is of genotype C and they have a high HBV-DNA level and severe liver pathological injuries. These features of the family gathered hepatitis B patients are the main factors causing the unfavorable prognosis of the patients. (2) There is inflammation of different degrees in the livers and high HBV DNA levels in all the family gathered ASC patients. Antiviral therapy should be planned according to the pathological features in patients livers. (3) Liver biopsies should be performed routinely before their antiviral therapy.
Shao
Feng-zhen
FZ
Department of Liver and Gallbladder Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China. sfz@medmail.com.cn
Shi
Bo-an
BA
Liu
Wen-quan
WQ
Cui
Li-an
LA
Shang
Hong-ye
HY
Zhang
Qin
Q
Zhang
Jun-fu
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral