Correlation between hepatitis B genotypes, 1896 precore mutation, virus loads and liver dysfunction in an Indian population.
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.
Vivekanandan
Perumal
P
Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Bissett
Sara
S
Ijaz
Samreen
S
Teo
Chong Gee
CG
Sridharan
Gopalan
G
Raghuraman
Sukanya
S
Daniel
Hubert Darius
HD
Kavitha
Manohar L
ML
Daniel
Dolly
D
Chandy
George M
GM
Abraham
Priya
P
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