title: Clinical findings in a multi-ethnic adult hepatitis B virus patient population in Denmark with emphasis on genotypic characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most knowledge about chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is based upon studies in high-endemic areas with one or two predominant genotype(s). The aim of the study was to describe clinical characteristics of a heterogeneous genotypic HBV patient population in a low-endemic European country.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from HBV patients currently followed in a Danish university hospital and affiliated regional clinics were reviewed in accordance to genotype status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 540 HBV patients, 462 (86%) were of non-Danish ethnicity originating from 43 different countries. HBV genotype was known in 37% of the patients: A (11%), B (25%), C (25%), D (37%) and E (2%). Logistic regression analysis of pre-treatment data among genotype A-D patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy revealed a decreased HBeAg rate by age (OR = 0.93; CI: 0.89-0.97; p < 0.01) and an increased rate in genotype C patients (OR = 20.5; CI: 3.3-129; p < 0.01). Among untreated patients HBeAg rate was also significantly decreased by age (OR = 0.90 (0.85:0.95; p < 0.0001), whereas the rate was increased in both genotype B and C patients (OR = 7.5; CI: 1.8-30.5; p < 0.01 and OR = 12.2; CI: 3.2-46.6; p < 0.001, respectively). No significant variation was found in HBV DNA level in any of the two groups when adjusting for age, gender, genotype and HBeAg. Increased liver pathology prevalence was, irrespectively of treatment status, associated to age and male gender, but not to any genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study population, genotype B and C was found associated with higher HBeAg rate but not with increased liver pathology.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital , Skejby , Denmark.
authors: Nanna-Sophie
authors: NS
authors: Brinck-Jensen
authors: Purnima
authors: P
authors: Erichsen
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Tarp
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Lindberg
authors: Lena H
authors: LH
authors: Kristensen
authors: Mogens
authors: M
authors: Erlandsen
authors: Eskild
authors: E
authors: Petersen
authors: Peter D C
authors: PD
authors: Leutscher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003718:Denmark; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
keywords: chronic hepatitis B virus; demography; liver pathology; serology; treatment