title: Hepatitis B virus genotypes in southwest Iran: molecular, serological and clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the associations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype with HBeAg and anti-HBe status, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and HBV-DNA detection in different groups of HBV-infected patients in southwest Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected from the same number of patients. All sera were then investigated to determine HBV DNA and serological markers. For all the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive samples, biochemical, histopathological assays and genotyping were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype D was the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of acute and chronic infections. There was a high prevalence of HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis (52.7%). Out of 55 patients with chronic hepatitis, seven (12.7%) were diagnosed with cirrhosis. A significant association between the presence of anti-HBe antibody and an increase in ALT level, among either HBeAg-negative (P = 0.01) or HBeAg-positive (P = 0.026) patients, was demonstrated. No significant differences were observed between the clinical outcomes of HBeAg-positive and -negative individuals (P = 0.24).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genotype D has been recognized as the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of HBV infections, including cirrhosis, among the residents of southwest Iran. Anti-HBe possibly plays a role in disease progression in some patients with chronic hepatitis, at least for a period of disease.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mojiri
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behzad-Behbahani
authors.forename: Mehdei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saberifirozi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardabili
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beheshti
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahsaz
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banihashemi
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azarpira
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geramizadeh
authors.forename: Baharak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khadang
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moaddeb
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghaedi
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.forename: Ardeshir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torab
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amirzadeh
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jowkar
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehrabani
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amini-Bavil-Olyaee
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dehyadegari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase