Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Subgenotypes and Basal Core Promoter, Precore Variants in Patients with Acute Hepatitis B in Central Vietnam

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been classified into 8 genotypes that have different geographic distributions. The clinical outcomes of acute hepatitis are dependent on genotype. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of HBV subgenotypes and basal core promoter (BCP)/precore (PC) regions in acute hepatitis patients in Central Vietnam to clarify the distributions and the clinical and virological differences. Methods: 27 patients with acute hepatitis B were studied. HBV subgenotypes and BCP/PC variants were determined by direct sequencing of the preS, BCP/PC regions, respectively. Results: HBV subgenotypes B4/Ba (n = 22) and C1/Cs (n = 5) were detected. Of the 27 patients, 3 developed fulminant hepatic failure, and all were infected with B4/Ba. Three patients had a BCP mutation, and 10 patients had a PC mutation in subgenotype B4/Ba. Three patients with C1/Cs had a BCP mutation. Two of 3 patients who progressed to fulminant hepatic failure had T1762, A1764, and A1896 simultaneously. None of the patients with acute, self-limited hepatitis carried these triple mutations. Conclusion: The prevalent HBV subgenotypes in patients with acute hepatitis B in Central Vietnam were B4/Ba and C1/Cs. BCP/PC variants have an association with the development of fulminant hepatic failure in subgenotype B4/Ba.

Genetic variations of hepatitis B virus and serum aflatoxin-lysine adduct on high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern Guangxi, China

“…HBV genotype B and C are the two common genotypes in China [25–27] and Vietnam [28,29], a neighboring country of Southern Guangxi, where more than 80% of subjects have genotypes B or C. A previous study in Guangxi area reported 100% of genotype C in 20 asymptomatic HBV carriers [30], which was higher but still comparable to 84.2% of genotype C in our controls.…”

High prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections among adults living in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam

“…Our study among the general population found that the most popular HBV genotype is B (75.3%), followed by C (11.7%). Comparable HBV genotype distribution of genotypes B and C were also observed in Vietnam . However, genotype C was reported to predominate over genotype B .…”

“…Comparable HBV genotype distribution of genotypes B and C were also observed in Vietnam. 14,15 However, genotype C was reported to predominate over genotype B. 16,17 These conflicts may be due to different study populations; genotype B was common among asymptomatic HBV infected cases, whereas genotype C was prominent in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC.…”

A336C/A336T/T337C variations in HBV core gene and spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen loss in chronic hepatitis B patients

“…Recent studies have identified several HBV variants and mutants playing an important role in disease pathogenesis, immune escape, and resistance to antiviral therapy[18,19]. HBV variants such as A1896 occur under the selective pressures from the host's immune system and from viral factors [20,21], whereas HBV mutants, such as rtI204 and rtV204, usually occur secondary to exogenous factors such as lamivudine and associate with a specific phenotype[12,22].…”