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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Analysis of hepatitis B genotype changes in chronic hepatitis B infection: Influence of antiviral therapy
Rosendo Jardi1, Francisco Rodriguez-Frias, Melanie Schaper
1Department of Biochemistry, Hospital General Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Paseo Valle Hebrón s/n, Servicio de Bioquimica, Barcelona 08035, Spain. rjardi@vhebron.net
Background/Aims:
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.
Methods:
Serum samples from 103 CHB patients were included in a cross-sectional study. 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.
Results:
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.
Conclusions:
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. The absence of changes in untreated patients suggests that HBV genotype is stable without external factors.
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