title: Hepatitis B virus genotypes in Southeast Brazil and its relationship with histological features.
abstract: Data concerning the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and liver histology are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare HBV non-B and non-C genotypes according to demographic features, clinical status, HBV-DNA levels and liver histology in Rio de Janeiro. One hundred twenty one consecutive chronic HBV-infected patients were enrolled during two-year period and data were prospectively collected. Sera were tested for HBV genotyping using restriction fragment length polymorphism. Liver biopsy was obtained from patients with either increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or HBV-DNA levels. Genotype A was the most common, found in 82 (68%) patients, followed by F in 19 (15%), D in 17 (14%), B in one (1%) and C in two (2%). There was no association between HBV genotypes A, D and F and gender (p = 0.37), age (p = 0.78), race (p = 0.22), mode of infection (p = 0.94), HB "e" antigen status (p = 0.37) and HBV-DNA levels (p = 0.47). The ALT levels were lower in genotype D (75%) compared with A (47%) and F (55%) (p = 0.05). Liver biopsy showed lower inflammation [histological activity index (HAI) = 4] and fibrosis (F) (= 0) scores in genotype D than in genotypes A (HAI = 5, p < 0.001; F = 2, p = 0.008) or F (HAI = 5, p = 0.009; F = 2, p = 0.01). Genotype A was the most prevalent in chronic HBV-infected patients and genotype D patients presented with less intense liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Hepatologia, [corrected] Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. leticia.nabuco@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Leticia Cancella
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Nabuco
authors.forename: Francisco Campello do Amaral
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Selma de Andrade
authors.initials: Sde A
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Renata Mello
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Jorge André Segadas
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Henrique Sérgio Moraes
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Cristiane Alves Villela
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase