title: [Clinical characteristies and distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype and sub-genotype].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the distribution and virologic characteristics of HBV genotypes, sub-type and possible association with the severity of liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  884 patients infected with HBV were enrolled from 8 provinces in China. HBV genotype and sub-type was determined, using PCR-RFLP method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common HBV genotypes were B (20.77% ) and C (78.22 % ) but only 1 patient showed genotypes D. We found sub-type Ba in patients with genotype B, C1 and C2 sub-type in patients with genotype C. Genotype C (83.62%) and sub-type C2 (90.32%) were predominant in northern China. Patients with genotype B were much younger than those with genotype C. There was no significant difference between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. There was no significant difference in liver function and serum HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C,or between patients with sub type C1 and C2. However, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significantly differences in liver function and HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C, or between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C. Genotype C/sub-type C2 were preponderance in northern China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Teaching Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xing-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chong-wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei-bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yan-yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gui-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult