Prevalence of HBV Genotypes in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 7(4); 2001 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2001;7(4): 381-386.

원저 : 만성 B 형 간염환자에서 B 형 간염 바이러스 유전자형의 빈도 ( Original Articles : Prevalence of HBV Genotypes in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B )

Prevalence of HBV Genotypes in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Il Hyun Cho,Jung Youp Song,Deog Ki Kim,Hong Seok Lim,Seung Soo Sheen,Won Seok Kim,Kee Myeong Lee,Ki Baik Hahm,Jin Hong Kim,Sung Won Cho

Department of Gastroenterology, Aj ou University College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

ABSTRACT

Background
/ Aims : Hepatitis B virus(HBV) genotype have distinct geographic distributions. The possibility of pathogenic difference 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. Conclusion : 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. (Korean J Hepatol 200 1;7 :38 1- 386 )

KeyWords: Hepatitis/Viral/ chronic hepatitis B, Hepatitis B virus, HBV genotypes, Epidemiology