title: Correlation between hepatitis B genotypes, 1896 precore mutation, virus loads and liver dysfunction in an Indian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes may differ in pathogenicity. However, the interplay between different virus characteristics such as genotypes, mutants and virus loads has not been well studied . We investigated the association between HBV genotype, presence of 1896 precore mutation and HBV viral loads in patients with HBV-related liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixteen HBV DNA-seropositive patients attending a gastroenterology outpatient clinic and 107 HBV DNA-seropositive blood donors were recruited. The subjects were stratified as those with normal (Group I, n=164) and elevated (Group II, n=59) ALT levels. The HBV genotype and the presence of the 1896 precore mutation were determined, and plasma HBV DNA levels measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype C was more common in Group II than in Group I (10 (17%) vs. 4 (2.4%); p< 0.005). There was no relationship between the 1896 precore mutation and the HBV DNA levels. Subjects with genotype C (n=14) had higher HBV DNA levels than those with genotypes A (n=33) or D (n=158).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The infecting genotype, but not the presence of 1896 precore mutation, correlates with HBV load. The association of genotype C with higher virus loads and with elevated ALT may point to a greater pathogenicity of this genotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: Perumal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vivekanandan
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bissett
authors.forename: Samreen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ijaz
authors.forename: Chong Gee
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Gopalan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghuraman
authors.forename: Hubert Darius
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Manohar L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.forename: Dolly
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Chandy
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019562:Viral Load