Gut Liver.  2011 Mar;5(1):70-76.

Association between Hepatitis B Virus X Gene Mutations and Clinical Status in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

• Cho EY
• Choi CS
• Cho JH
• Kim HC

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Few reports have described the association between mutations in the entire X gene of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the clinical status of HBV-infected patients. We studied the association between HBV X gene mutations and the disease status of patients infected with HBV genotype C.
METHODS
Mutations in the HBV X genes of 194 patients were determined by direct sequencing. The subject population consisted of patients with chronic hepatitis (n=60), liver cirrhosis (n=65), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n=69). The sequencing results of these 3 groups were compared.
RESULTS
Each of the mutations G1386M, C1485T, C1653T, T1753V, A1762T, and G1764A was significantly associated with the patient's clinical status. The T1753V (p<0.001) and A1762T/G1764A (p<0.001) mutations were found more frequently in Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative than in HBeAg-positive patients. Specific X gene mutations (G1386M, C1653T, and A1762T/G1764A) were more prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC than in chronic hepatitis patients (p<0.005 for all). In addition, the T1753V (p<0.001) and C1485T (p<0.001) mutations were significantly more prevalent in HCC patients than in chronic hepatitis patients. Only the prevalence of the T1753V mutation increased as the HBV infection progressed from liver cirrhosis to HCC (p=0.023).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show a difference in the pattern of X gene mutations that were associated with the clinical status of patients with chronic HBV infection.

Keyword

Hepatitis B virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cirrhosis; Liver disease; X mutation

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Fibrosis
Genotype
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver Diseases
Prevalence