title: Polymorphism of UGT1A1*28 (TA)7 and liver damage in hepatitis B virus-positive patients in Albania.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the infectious agent of both acute and chronic hepatitis. HBV exists in multiple genotypic variants that differ in their capacity to become persistent chronic infections and in their clinical manifestations, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The 8 genotypes (A-H) of HBV show a specific worldwide geographic distribution and are correlated with different disease course, severity, and response to therapy. We isolated DNA from 75 HBV-positive blood donors, chosen randomly from the database of the National Blood Bank in Tirana, to specifically analyze the UGT1A1 polymorphism to determine its correlations with bilirubin levels and liver function. The large number of subjects who were HBV-positive carriers of heterozygosis or homozygosis for the UGT1A1*28 (TA)7 polymorphism suggests that these individuals may be more susceptible to cancer and should follow a strict regime of prevention.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences, Medical University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marku
authors.affiliation: MAGI Non-Profit Human Medical Genetics Institute, Rovereto, Italy paolo.maltese@assomagi.org.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Maltese
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koni
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capodicasa
authors.affiliation: National Blood Transfusion Center, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Qendro
authors.affiliation: MAGI Non-Profit Human Medical Genetics Institute, Rovereto, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rigoni
authors.affiliation: MAGI Non-Profit Human Medical Genetics Institute, Rovereto, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cecchin
authors.affiliation: MAGI Non-Profit Human Medical Genetics Institute, Rovereto, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertelli
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000099148:UGT1A1 Enzyme
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000099148:UGT1A1 Enzyme