title: Hepatitis B viral genotype in Taiwanese patients with acute hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The correlation of HBV genotype with clinical outcome has been recognized in chronic hepatitis B patients. However, there are few reports on the distribution and clinical significance of HBV genotypes in acute hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen acute hepatitis B patients were identified and their HBV genotypes were determined. The serological and clinical data were thus compared between patients with different HBV genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two HBV genotypes (B and C) were found in the patients. Genotype B was more predominant than genotype C (12 vs. 7). The age, serum alanine aminotransferase level, serum alpha-fetoprotein level, and serum HBV DNA level were not significantly different between patients infected with genotype B or C. None of them had persistent HBsAg for longer than 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genotype B predominates in acute hepatitis B patients in Taiwan; however, the clinical features between genotype B and genotype C patients are comparable.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pei-Jer
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Yang
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jia-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Ding-Shinn
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013624:Taiwan