title: High rate of core promoter and precore mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of precore (PC) and core promoter (CP) mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB) and their impact on liver disease is incompletely defined in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review using a cross-sectional approach of 1,186 CHB patients was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 926 patients tested for HBV e antigen (HBeAg), 37% were HBeAg+. Of 194 patients tested for mutations, 80% had PC or CP mutations or both; 89% of HBeAg-negative and 56% of HBeAg+ patients had PC or CP mutations or both (p < 0.001). The mean log10 ALT was significantly lower in patients with both mutations compared to patients without mutations. The mean log10 HBV DNA was significantly lower in patients with only PC mutations (4.82) compared to patients without mutations (5.71, p = 0.019). With the study population divided into four subgroups based on ALT level at time of diagnosis, cirrhosis incidence was significantly higher in patients with ALT 1-2 × ULN and ALT > 2 × ULN compared to patients with ALT ≤ 0.5 × ULN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding that PC and CP mutations may be associated with milder liver disease in some patients could serve as the basis for longitudinal studies to help delineate treatment need and duration in patients with these mutations. If confirmed, the finding of an association between ALT 1-2 × ULN and increased incidence of cirrhosis could call into question guidelines which only recommend treatment with ALT > 2 × ULN.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Alameda County Medical Center, 1411 E. 31st St., Oakland, CA, 94602-1018, USA, sumbella@gmail.com.
authors: Sumbella F
authors: SF
authors: Baqai
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Proudfoot
authors: Debbie H
authors: DH
authors: Yi
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Mangahas
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Gish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase