Reports outline hepatitis B virus therapy study findings from Hospital General Universitario, Department of Biochemistry
December 15th, 2008
2008 DEC 15 -- Scientists discuss in 'Analysis of hepatitis B genotype changes in chronic hepatitis B infection: Influence of antiviral therapy' new findings in hepatitis B virus. "The frequency of mixed hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in chronic HBV (CHB) and genotype changes during natural disease evolution and as a result of antiviral therapy were investigated. Serum samples from 103 CHB patients were included in a cross-sectional study," researchers in Barcelona, Spain report.
"Longitudinal study of HBV genotypes was performed in 22 patients, 17 of them under antiviral therapy (lamivudine and/or adefovir). HBV genotyping was done by the INNO-LiPA HBV assay. Genotypes observed in the cross-sectional study: A 32% of cases, D 42%, C 2%, F 2%, and mixed genotypes 22% (mainly A/D, followed by A/G). Genotype G was found in 7% of patients, always combined with other genotypes. In the longitudinal study, genotype changes were observed only in treated patients (9 cases). Genotype A strains were positively selected in 6 of them, mainly as mixed A/D. In 6 patients, selection coincided with a decrease in HBV-DNA levels. A high frequency of mixed HBV genotypes was observed in our setting. Selection of genotype A strains during treatment is likely an indication that sensitivity to therapy differs between genotypes A and D," wrote R. Jardi and colleagues, Hospital General Universitario, Department of Biochemistry.
The researchers concluded: "The absence of changes in untreated patients suggests that HBV genotype is stable without external factors."
Jardi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Hepatology (Analysis of hepatitis B genotype changes in chronic hepatitis B infection: Influence of antiviral therapy. Journal of Hepatology, 2008;49(5):695-701).
For additional information, contact R. Jardi, Hospital General Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Dept. of Biochemistry, Paseo Valle Hebron s, n, Servicio de Bioquimica, Barcelona 08035, Spain.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Hepatology is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.
