title: Subgenotypes of hepatitis B virus genotype C do not correlate with disease progression of chronic hepatitis B in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C (HBV/C) has two subgenotypes: HBV/Cs and Ce. The prevalence and clinical implications of subgenotype Cs and Ce in Taiwanese HBV carriers remain unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subgenotypes of HBV/C were determined in 242 Taiwanese HBV carriers with various stages of liver disease. The clinical as well as virologic features between patients with HBV/Cs and HBV/Ce infection were further compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV/Ce was the predominant subgenotype in Taiwan. The prevalence of HBV/Ce was 93.6% in the inactive carriers group, 84.2% in chronic hepatitis patients, 81.2% in cirrhosis patients, 92.5% in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients without cirrhosis and 91.9% in HCC patients with cirrhosis. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the HBV/C subgenotypes among patients with different stages of liver disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subgenotypes of HBV/C may not have a clinical impact on the disease progression of chronic hepatitis B in Taiwan.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tai-Chung
authors: TC
authors: Tseng
authors: Chun-Jen
authors: CJ
authors: Liu
authors: Pei-Jer
authors: PJ
authors: Chen
authors: Ming-Yang
authors: MY
authors: Lai
authors: Chih-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Lin
authors: Jia-Horng
authors: JH
authors: Kao
authors: Ding-Shinn
authors: DS
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral