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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2014; 20(24): 7653-7664
Published online Jun 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7653
Clinical implications of hepatitis B virus mutations: Recent advances
Ivana Lazarevic
Ivana Lazarevic, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Author contributions: Lazarevic I solely contributed to this paper.
Supported by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant No.175073
Correspondence to: Ivana Lazarevic, MD, PhD, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. ilazarevic@med.bg.ac.rs
Telephone: +381-11-3643379 Fax: +381-11-3643366
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: January 5, 2014
Accepted: March 5, 2014
Published online: June 28, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Understanding the frequencies and clinical implications of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations may contribute to improvement of diagnostic procedures, more proper planning of immunization programs and creating the most efficient therapeutic protocols. This paper brings an overview and latest research results on the most important, clinically relevant, HBV mutations. The covered topics include mutations involved in vaccine-escape phenomenon, resistance to currently available antiviral drugs, development of “occult” hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, fulminant hepatitis and hepatitis B e antigen-negative hepatitis, as well as the problem of these mutations in HBV/human immunodeficiency virus and HBV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients.