title: [Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes and its clinical significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Handan area and clarify the genotype-related difference in clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the HBV genotypes in 108 HBV-infected patients from Handan area. The clinical significance of HBV genotype was analyzed in combination with the values of HBV DNA and ALT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 108 HBV-infected patients, the proportion of genotype B and C was 6.5 percent and 93.5 percent, respectively. Genotype distribution showed no significant difference between male and female patients. ALT and AST levels were higher in genotype C group than those in genotype B group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV genotype C is predominant in chronic hepatitis B patients in Handan area. The positive rates of HBeAg and HBV DNA levels were higher in genotype C group than those in genotype B group. Genotype C was associated with the development of severe liver disease as compared to genotype B.
authors.affiliation: Handan Infections Disease Hospital, Handan 056002, China. konghb@163.com
authors.forename: Hong-bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: You-sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged