Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2014; 20(11): 3044-3049
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.3044
Acute hepatitis B of genotype H resulting in persistent infection
Norie Yamada, Ryuta Shigefuku, Ryuichi Sugiyama, Minoru Kobayashi, Hiroki Ikeda, Hideaki Takahashi, Chiaki Okuse, Michihiro Suzuki, Fumio Itoh, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Kiyomi Yasuda, Kyoji Moriya, Kazuhiko Koike, Takaji Wakita, Takanobu Kato
Norie Yamada, Ryuichi Sugiyama, Takaji Wakita, Takanobu Kato, Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjyuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
Norie Yamada, Minoru Kobayashi, Kiyomi Yasuda, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Liver Diseases, Kiyokawa Hospital, Suginami, Tokyo 166-0004, Japan
Norie Yamada, Ryuta Shigefuku, Minoru Kobayashi, Hiroki Ikeda, Hideaki Takahashi, Chiaki Okuse, Michihiro Suzuki, Fumio Itoh, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan
Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Kyoji Moriya, Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Kazuhiko Koike, Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Author contributions: Shigefuku R, Kobayashi M, Ikeda H, Takahashi H, Okuse C, Suzuki M and Itoh F were the patient’s attending physicians; Yotsuyanagi H, Yasuda K, Moriya K, Koike K, Wakita T and Kato T organized the study; Yamada N, Sugiyama R and Kato T performed the research; Yamada N and Kato T wrote the manuscript.
Supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
Correspondence to: Takanobu Kato, MD, PhD, Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjyuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan. takato@nih.go.jp
Telephone: +81-3-52851111 Fax: +81-3-52851161
Received: October 3, 2013
Revised: November 18, 2103
Accepted: December 5, 2013
Published online: March 21, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype H infection is rare in Asia, particularly in Japan. Here, we report a case of acute hepatitis B caused by a genotype H strain with persistent infection, although most adult cases of acute hepatitis B are self-limiting in Japan. This case suggests that the HBV genotype H infection can be a risk factor for persistent infection. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the characteristics of genotype H infection in an accumulation of cases. Thus, the complete determination of the HBV genotype may be essential in the routine clinical care of acute hepatitis B patients.