Analysis of hepatitis B genotype changes in chronic hepatitis B infection: Influence of antiviral th

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J Hepatol. 2008 May 6. [Epub ahead of print]

Analysis of hepatitis B genotype changes in chronic hepatitis B infection:

Influence of antiviral therapy.

Jardi R, -Frias F, Schaper M, Giggi E, Tabernero D, Homs M, Esteban R,

Buti M.

Department of Biochemistry, Hospital General Universitario Vall d’Hebrón, Paseo

Valle Hebrón s/n, Servicio de Bioquimica, Barcelona 08035, Spain; Department of

Hepatology, Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The frequency of mixed hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in

chronic HBV (CHB) and genotype changes during natural disease evolution and as a

result of antiviral therapy were investigated. METHODS: Serum samples from 103

CHB patients were included in a cross-sectional study. Longitudinal study of HBV

genotypes was performed in 22 patients, 17 of them under antiviral therapy

(lamivudine and/or adefovir). HBV genotyping was done by the INNO-LiPA HBV

assay. RESULTS: Genotypes observed in the cross-sectional study: A 32% of cases,

D 42%, C 2%, F 2%, and mixed genotypes 22% (mainly A/D, followed by A/G).

Genotype G was found in 7% of patients, always combined with other genotypes. In

the longitudinal study, genotype changes were observed only in treated patients

(9 cases). Genotype A strains were positively selected in 6 of them, mainly as

mixed A/D. In 6 patients, selection coincided with a decrease in HBV-DNA levels.

CONCLUSIONS: A high frequency of mixed HBV genotypes was observed in our

setting. Selection of genotype A strains during treatment is likely an

indication that sensitivity to therapy differs between genotypes A and D. The

absence of changes in untreated patients suggests that HBV genotype is stable

without external factors.

PMID: 18490074 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher

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