Subgenotypes of hepatitis B virus genotype C do not correlate with disease progression of chronic hepatitis B in Taiwan.
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.
Tseng
Tai-Chung
TC
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liu
Chun-Jen
CJ
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Lin
Chih-Lin
CL
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
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
D004279:DNA, Viral