Distribution of Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes in Blood Donors and Chronically Infected Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes differ in their potential for causing disease. Consecutive patients with chronic HBV infection (CHBV) (n = 122) and blood donors (n = 67) positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and HBV DNA were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment—length polymorphism. The ratio of male to female subjects was significantly higher in the blood donor group than in the group of patients with CHBV (P = .0004). Among patients with CHBV, genotype D was detected in 57.3%, genotype A was detected in 18%, and genotype C was detected in 11.5%. Only genotypes D and A were detected in blood donors. The difference between the detection rate of genotype C in patients with CHBV and in blood donors was significant (11.5% vs. 0%; P = .009). Patients with CHBV who had genotype C had higher alanine transaminase (ALT) levels than those who had genotype A (P = .044) or genotype D (P = .014). Detection of genotype C in patients with CHBV and the association of genotype C with higher ALT levels may predict that this genotype has a greater potential for causing disease than other genotypes.