[Relation of viral genotypes to clinical features in children with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation of HBV genotypes to clincal features in children with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
The genotypes of serum HBV DNA from 404 children with chronic hepatitis B were determined by PCR using type-specific primers.


RESULTS
For the 404 children, genotype B in 99 (24.5%), genotype C in 285 (70.5%). For the 75 children from south part of China, 29 were of genotype B (38.7%) and 44 of genotype C (58.7%). For the 329 children from north part of China, 70 were of genotype B (21.3%) and 241 of genotype C (73.3%). There were significant differences between the children from south part and those from north part of China in genotype B and C (P = 0.002). Genotype B and C were not significantly correlated to gender, age and mother-to-fetus transmission. There was no marked difference in liver injury severity (P = 0.4796), serum HBeAg positivity, HBVDNA level, inflammatory degree of liver tissue (P = 0.209) and liver fibrosis( P = 0.177) between the children with genotype B and those with genotype C.


CONCLUSIONS
In children with HBV infection, genotype C accounts for 70.5% and genotype B for 24.5%. The genotypes are of regional difference in children with HBV infeciton. There are replication and liver pathological change between genotype B and genotype C.
Zhu
Shi-Shu
SS
Department of Pediatric Liver Diseases, 302 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039, China.
Zhang
Hong-Fei
HF
Wang
Hai-Bin
HB
Dong
Yi
Y
Chen
Da-Wei
DW
Jia
Wen-Zhen
WZ
Gan
Yu
Y
Chen
Ju-Mei
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male
D004279:DNA, Viral