[HBV genotypes among patients with chronic hepatitis B in the area of central Poland]

At present, eight (8) HBV genotypes have been identified, marked by letters from A to H. The distribution of particular genotypes , both in the world and in Poland, is the focus of particular epidemiological interest as well as its possible association with therapeutic efficacy of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) undergoing antiviral therapy. The goal of the study was HBV genotype determination among patients with CHB living in the area of central Poland. There were 65 patients (18 females and 47 males) aged 18-80 years (mean: 42.3). All of the patients had HBsAg detectable for at least 6 months and previously they did not receive any antiviral or immunomodulating therapy. HBV genotyping was performed by means of commercial method "INNO LiPA Genotyping". Genotype A was found in 56 out of 65 (86.6%) patients, genotype D in 6 out of 65 (9.2%), and mixed genoptype A+D was found in 3 out of 65 (4.6%) patients. HBeAg was detected in 49 out of 56 (87.5%) persons with genotype A, in 4 out of 6 persons with genotype D and in one person with mixed genotype A+D. Mixed genotype A+D was found only among males. Anti-HBe was found exclusively among 6 out of 56 (10.7%) persons with genotype A. Both HBeAg and anti-HBe were undetectable in one person with genotype A, in 2 persons with genotype D and in 2 persons with mixed genotype A+D. The method applied for this study is particularly suitable for the determination of mixed HBV genotypes, as well as for clinical or epidemiological studies of a large numbers of samples. Future studies to be performed after an antiviral or other form of therapy in patients with CHB may bring some evidence on the influence of treatment in relation to HBV genotype. Further studies on HBV genotypes distribution in different regions of the country may allow to gather data on molecular epidemiology of HBV infection in Poland.