High prevalence of HBV genotype D in Syria and the clinical characteristics of hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype D and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis are the most prevalent in Mediterranean countries. No data have ever been published on their prevalence in Syria, a country of intermediate endemicity for HBV. The aims of the current study were to determine the HBV genotype distribution in Syria, the prevalence of HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis and to analyse the clinical characteristics of each group. A total of 220 patients were included. Ninety-seven percent of the patients were of genotype D, and 72% were HBeAg negative. The HBeAg-negative patients were older, had a lower viral load, had more cirrhosis and the mode of contamination was known less than for HBeAg-positive patients. These findings have major implications in understanding the natural history of the infection and are of great relevance in the choice of therapy.

• Authors: N Antaki, S Haffar, S Ali Deeb, F Assaad, R Abou Harb, N Zeibane, M Nasserelddine, N Ibrahim, N Alhaj, E Jabbour, R Aaraj, F Antaki, K Kebbewar, Syrian Working Group for the Study of Viral Hepatitis
• Journal: Epidemiology and infection (Epidemiol Infect) Vol. 138 Issue 1 Pg. 40-4 (Jan 2010) ISSN: 1469-4409 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19538827 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis B e Antigens

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Female
• Genotype
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (classification, genetics)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (blood, epidemiology, virology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Sex Distribution
• Syria (epidemiology)
• Young Adult