Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2005; 11(13): 1976-1980
Published online Apr 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i13.1976
Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis B in Turkey
Mustafa Sunbul, Hakan Leblebicioglu
Mustafa Sunbul, Hakan Leblebicioglu, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Samsun, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a grant from ROCHE Pharmaceuticals, Turkey
Correspondence to: Mustafa Sunbul, MD., Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology,Medical School, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. msunbul@omu.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-362-4576000-2722 Fax: +90-362-4576041
Received: September 22, 2004
Revised: September 23, 2004
Accepted: October 18, 2004
Published online: April 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains isolated worldwide has been classified into eight genomic groups deduced from genome comparisons and designated as genotypes A to H. We aimed to investigate prevalence of HBV genotypes and subtypes in Turkey.

METHODS: A total of 88 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients from 15 hospitals throughout the country were included. Patients who were HBsAg positive in serum at least for 6 mo, who had HBV-DNA in serum and elevation of ALT levels more than two times upper limit of normal, and who had percutaneous liver biopsy within 6 mo were included. Genotyping of HBV was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The patients received subcutaneous 9 MU interferon-α 2a thrice a week for a period of 6 mo.

RESULTS: Genotype D was detected in 78 of 88 (88.7%) patients, however, genotyping failed in two patients (2.3%), while no product was obtained in eight (9.0%) patients. Regarding subtypes, D2 was more prevalent (67 patients between 78% and 85.9%) followed by subtype D2+deletion (seven patients of 78 or 8.9%), subtype D1 (three patients of 78% or 3.9%) and subtype D3 (one patient of 78% or 1.3%). Thirty-three patients (37.5%) were HBeAg positive compared to 55 (62.5%) anti-HBe positive patients. The endpoint for the viral response of HBeAg positive patients was 27.2%, while it was found 52.7% in HBeAg negative patients (P<0.05). Long-term persistent viral response was 29.5% for all patients.

CONCLUSION: This multi-center study indicates that the predominant genotype with CHB patients in Turkey like in other Mediterranean countries is genotype D.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Genotype; Interferon-α 2a