Hepatitis B viral genotype in Taiwanese patients with acute hepatitis B.
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.
Huang
Yi-Wen
YW
Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
Chih-Lin
CL
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
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