Hepatitis B virus genotypes in southwest Iran: molecular, serological and clinical outcomes.
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.
Mojiri
Anahita
A
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Behzad-Behbahani
Abbas
A
Saberifirozi
Mehdei
M
Ardabili
Maryam
M
Beheshti
Mahmood
M
Rahsaz
Marjan
M
Banihashemi
Mehrdad
M
Azarpira
Negar
N
Geramizadeh
Bita
B
Khadang
Baharak
B
Moaddeb
Afsaneh
A
Ghaedi
Mojgan
M
Heidari
Tahereh
T
Torab
Ardeshir
A
Salah
Alireza
A
Amirzadeh
Saeid
S
Jowkar
Zahra
Z
Mehrabani
Davood
D
Amini-Bavil-Olyaee
Samad
S
Dehyadegari
Mohammad-Ali
MA
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase