title: Prevalence of HBV genotypes in Central and Eastern Europe.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Katja
authors: K
authors: Deterding
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Constantinescu
authors: Filofteia Daniela
authors: FD
authors: Nedelcu
authors: Judit
authors: J
authors: Gervain
authors: Vratislav
authors: V
authors: Nemecek
authors: Otakar
authors: O
authors: Srtunecky
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Vince
authors: Ivica
authors: I
authors: Grgurevic
authors: Krzysztof P
authors: KP
authors: Bielawski
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Zalewska
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Bock
authors: Arvydas
authors: A
authors: Ambrozaitis
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Stanczak
authors: Mária
authors: M
authors: Takács
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Chulanov
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Slusarczyk
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Drazd'áková
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Wiegand
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Cornberg
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Manns
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Wedemeyer
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens