Variability in the precore and core promoter regions of HBV strains in Morocco: characterization and impact on liver disease progression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common human pathogens that cause aggressive hepatitis and advanced liver disease (AdLD), including liver cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The persistence of active HBV replication and liver damage after the loss of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) has been frequently associated with mutations in the pre-core (pre-C) and core promoter (CP) regions of HBV genome that abolish or reduce HBeAg expression. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of pre-C and CP mutations and their impact on the subsequent course of liver disease in Morocco.

Methods/principal findings

A cohort of 186 patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection was studied (81 inactive carriers, 69 with active chronic hepatitis, 36 with

SUBMITTER: Kitab B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3419231 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature