Soroconversão tardia do HBeAg em portadores do subgenótipo D4 do vírus da hepatite B

Abstract

Introduction: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) present diversity of its genome, which is to be classified in different genotypes and subgenotypes (A-J). It has been demonstrated that different genotypes are related to the natural history of infection. The maintenance of viral replication could be one of the factors related to genotypes. Objectives: To identify the viral replication status of HBV carriers among the subgenótipos A1 and D4. Materials and methods: HBV carriers identified have been studied in two studies involving individuals from the state of Maranhão, northeast,Brazil, which had genotyping and subgenotypes, serology for HBeAg and anti-HBe and certain viral loads. Serological tests were performed by ELISA, HBV – DNA quantification real time PCR and genotyping performed by sequencing. Results: We identified 146 patients. Among these, 136 were subgenotype A1 or D4. It is 85 - A1 (62.5%) and 51 - D4 (37.5%). No difference was found between groups when age was evaluated (42 ± 12 vs 38 ± 17 p=0.11) or gender (male 48.5% vs 51.5% p=00.18). Among the D4 subgenotype carriers had more patients with HBeAg positive (23.5% vs 9.4%, p=0.02) and a higher proportion of patients with viral loads above 20.000 IU / ml (43.1% vs 12.9 % p <0.0001), even when only those with negative HBeAg (25.6% vs 6.5%, p=0.007) when compared with the A1 subgenotype. Conclusion: HBV carriers, subgenotype D4, compared to A1 subgenotype have delayed HBeAg seroconversion and higher levels of HBV – DNA, suggesting that this subgenotype is possibly related to