Prevalence of HBV genotypes in Central and Eastern Europe.
The importance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes for disease progression and response to interferon-alpha-based treatment is well established. While almost all patients in the Mediterranean area are infected with HBV genotype D, HBV genotype A is dominant in Northern Europe. However, the distribution of HBV genotypes is unknown for several Central and Eastern European countries. Data are described of 1313 HBsAg-positive patients recruited at 14 referral centers in eight countries. There were only very few cases of HBV genotype B, C, E, F, and H infection while HBV genotypes A and D were found in 42% and 48% of patients, respectively. Eight percent of patients had positive bands for more than one genotype using the hybridization assay. The frequency of genotype A was higher in Poland (77%) and the Czech Republic (67%) as compared to Hungary (47%), Lithuania (41%), Croatia (8%), and Germany (32%). In contrast, HBV genotype D was most frequent in Croatian, Romanian, and Russian patients with 80%, 67%, and 93% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, HBV genotype A versus D showed significantly different distribution patterns in Central and Eastern Europe which deserves consideration for national guidelines and treatment decisions.
Deterding
Katja
K
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Constantinescu
Ileana
I
Nedelcu
Filofteia Daniela
FD
Gervain
Judit
J
Nemecek
Vratislav
V
Srtunecky
Otakar
O
Vince
Adriana
A
Grgurevic
Ivica
I
Bielawski
Krzysztof P
KP
Zalewska
Małgorzata
M
Bock
Thomas
T
Ambrozaitis
Arvydas
A
Stanczak
Janusz
J
Takács
Mária
M
Chulanov
Vladimir
V
Slusarczyk
Janusz
J
Drazd'áková
Marcela
M
Wiegand
Johannes
J
Cornberg
Markus
M
Manns
Michael P
MP
Wedemeyer
Heiner
H
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens