Evidence is accumulating that HBV variants may influence In renal transplant recipients, chronic hepatitis B vithe clinical course of hepatitis B. For instance, HBV with rus (HBV) infection often leads to cirrhosis and liver a point mutation in the preC-region (preC-variant), which failure. In this study, we investigated whether or not prevents the expression of the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), in these patients viral variants would emerge despite can be associated with severe liver disease and, in some geoimmunosuppression, and whether they are associated graphic areas, with acute fulminant hepatitis. 1 Recently, it with a specific course of liver disease. In a population was proposed that preC-variants may also be predisposed to of 552 renal transplant recipients hepatitis B 24 surface early graft loss following liver transplantation. 2 In some, but antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients were available for a not all, studies, variants with clustered point mutations or 2-year follow-up. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) variable long overlapping deletions in the middle of the core and DNA sequencing, HBV genomes with deletions in gene (C-gene) were found in patients with chronic active hepthe middle of the core gene (C-gene) were found in 9 out atitis, but not in patients with mild liver lesions. 3-5 of the 24 patients. Seven of the 9 patients (group I)Some of these and other variants are probably selected by showed either persistent or increasing amounts of these immune-mediated mechanisms, because they were shown to variants; all patients had cirrhosis, and 5 died of endemerge spontaneously in chronic carriers during seroconverstage liver disease. The viral variants emerged at least sion from HBeAg to antibody to HBe (anti-HBe) 6 during in-1 year before liver failure. In 2 out of the 9 patients, terferon therapy 7 and after vaccination. 8 However, other varithe core deletion variants disappeared, and no further ants with deletions or insertions in the C-gene promoter deterioration of the liver function was observed thereafregion seem to have a selective disadvantage when the imter. In the remaining 15 patients (group II) without delemune system is activated. 9 Thus, an effective immune retion mutants detected at any time, only 3 had cirrhosis sponse can trigger both the emergence and the disappearance (P õ .001, group I vs. II), and none died (P õ .001). Beof HBV variants. tween both groups, there were no statistically signifiIt is generally believed that the recognition of a wild-type cant differences in the other relevant variables that or variant HBV by the immune system will result in hepatiwere examined. These results indicate that HBV C-gene tis. The recognition of virtually all viral proteins by the hudeletion mutants can accumulate in long-term immunomoral and cellular immune system 10-11 supports this view, suppressed patients, and that their persistence is associand suggests that an effective immune response is a prerequiated with progressive liver disease. The accumulation site for liver injury. Howe...