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Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem. HBV genotypes may be associated with progression of liver disease. The distribution and clinical implications of HBV genotypes in southern Taiwan are evaluated. Methods: We used a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping method to determine HBV genotypes. Results: The genotype distribution for 265 patients with chronic HBV infection was as follows: A, 3 (1%); B, 158 (60%); C, 90 (34%); D, 7 (2.5%); E, 0; F, 0; and unclassified, 7 (2.5%). Compared with genotype B patients, genotype C patients had a higher hepatitis B e antigen positive rate and higher fibrosis score. There was no significant difference in the mean age between genotype B and genotype C patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, when patients were stratified by age, the prevalence of genotype C was significantly higher in young HCC patients (around 50 years of age) than in age-matched asymptomatic carriers (40% versus 10%, P ≺ 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, the significant risk factors for advanced liver disease (cirrhosis or HCC) for patients with chronic HBV infection were old age, male gender and genotype C. Conclusions: These results suggest that genotype C is associated with more severe liver diseases than the B variant.
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Notes on contributors
C.-M. Lee
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
C.-H. Chen
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
S.-N. Lu
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
H.-D. Tung
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
W.-J. Chou
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
J.-H. Wang
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
T.-M. Chen
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
C.-H. Hung
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
C.-C. Huang
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.
W.-J. Chen
Lee C-M, Chen C-H, Lu S-N, Tung H-D, Chou W-J, Wang J-H, Chen T-M, Hung C-H, Huang C-C, Chen W-J. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Southern Taiwan. Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:95-101.