Korean J Hepatol.  2001 Dec;7(4):381-386.

Prevalence of HBV Genotypes in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

• Cho IH
• Song JY
• Kim DK
• Lim HS
• Sheen SS
• Kim WS
• Lee KM
• Hahm KB
• Kim JH
• Cho SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes have distinct geographic distributions. The possibility of pathogenic differences among HBV genotypes has been suggested. We investigated the prevalence of HBV genotypes in Korea and the association between distinct genotypes and clinical outcomes.
METHODS
Using a PCR-RFLP and sequencing, HBV genotypes were determined in 136 patients with chronic type B hepatitis.
RESULTS
The genotype C was detected in 131 patients (96.3%), and other 5 patients (3.7%) had genotype B. There were no significant differences in sex, age, disease duration, ALT level, HBeAg/anti-HBe status, or HBeAg loss between genotype B and C patients.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that almost all patients with chronic hepatitis B are infected with genotype C. Genotypes do not influence the outcome of chronic hepatitis B patients in Korea.

Keyword

Hepatitis/Viral/chronic hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; HBV genotypes; Epidemiology

MeSH Terms

Epidemiology
Genotype*
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Korea
Prevalence*
Hepatitis B e Antigens