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Prevalence of HBV genotypes in Central and Eastern Europe
Author(s) -
Deterding Katja,
Constantinescu Ileana,
Nedelcu Filofteia Daniela,
Gervain Judit,
Nĕmeček Vratislav,
Srtunecky Otakar,
Vince Adriana,
Grgurevic Ivica,
Bielawski Krzysztof P.,
Zalewska Małgorzata,
Bock Thomas,
Ambrozaitis Arvydas,
Stanczak Janusz,
Takács Mária,
Chulanov Vladimir,
Slusarczyk Janusz,
Dražd'áková Marcela,
Wiegand Johannes,
Cornberg Markus,
Manns Michael P.,
Wedemeyer Heiner
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21294
Subject(s) - genotype , virology , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , medicine , biology , virus , gene , genetics
The importance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes for disease progression and response to interferon‐alpha‐based treatment is well established. While almost all patients in the Mediterranean area are infected with HBV genotype D, HBV genotype A is dominant in Northern Europe. However, the distribution of HBV genotypes is unknown for several Central and Eastern European countries. Data are described of 1313 HBsAg‐positive patients recruited at 14 referral centers in eight countries. There were only very few cases of HBV genotype B, C, E, F, and H infection while HBV genotypes A and D were found in 42% and 48% of patients, respectively. Eight percent of patients had positive bands for more than one genotype using the hybridization assay. The frequency of genotype A was higher in Poland (77%) and the Czech Republic (67%) as compared to Hungary (47%), Lithuania (41%), Croatia (8%), and Germany (32%). In contrast, HBV genotype D was most frequent in Croatian, Romanian, and Russian patients with 80%, 67%, and 93% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, HBV genotype A versus D showed significantly different distribution patterns in Central and Eastern Europe which deserves consideration for national guidelines and treatment decisions. J. Med. Virol. 80:1707–1711, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.